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1-25      1.4    1  1.6 

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Photographic 

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V 


d 


u.. 


^ 


B 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

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CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


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1^ 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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po 
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fill 


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be 
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oti 
fir: 
sio 
or 


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me 


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10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


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y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


aire 

(  details 
|ues  du 
t  modifier 
iger  une 
9  fiimage 


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j6e8 


ire 


ly  errata 
Bd  to 

nt 

ne  pelure, 

19011  d 


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1 

2 

3 

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Scott  Library, 
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fiimage. 

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la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

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dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
fiimds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seui  clich6,  il  est  fiimi  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


r-    1 

t:          2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

32X 


SECOND  SERIES 


OF  A 


DIAIIY   IN   AMERICA. 


WITH 


HEAFARKS  ON  ITS  INSTITUTIONS. 


Bif 


CAPT.    MARRY  AT,    C.B., 


I 


r;i:. 


<  (I 


AUTHOR  OF 


"PETER    SIMPLE"   JACOB   FAITHFUL" 
"FRANK   MILDMA  Y,»  &c. 


im 


COMPLETE  IN  ONE  VOLUME. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

T.    K.   &   P.   G.    COLLINS. 


I 


li: 


i  i. 


•I 

'I  • 

•I 

y,     1 


1840. 


n  y/6 


I  BE 

own,  1( 
out  sor 
who  w 
be  nati 
to  was 
from  a 
we  nat 
theless 
conscic 
interest 
never  s 
always 
seeing 
this  de( 
left  the 

That 
my  wo 
tions  q 
be  fals 
prehen( 
from  a 
althouj 
paths, 
eye  or 
what  I 
The  in 
who  pi 
ing  in 
and  cu 

The 
bad  of 
pigtail 
"I  ne\ 

VOL. 


MARRYAT'S  DIARY. 


» 


CHAPTER  I. 


TRAVELLING. 

I  BELIEVE  that  the  remarks  of  a  traveller  in  any  country  not  liis 
own,  let  his  work  be  ever  so  trifling  or  badly  written,  will  point 
out  some  peculiarity  which  will  have  escaped  the  notice  of  those 
who  were  born  and  reside  in  that  country,  unless  thoy  happen  to 
be  natives  of  that  portion  of  it  in  which  the  circumstance  alluded 
to  was  observed.  It  is  a  fact  that  no  one  knows  his  own  country; 
from  assuetude  and,  perhaps,  from  the  feelings  of  regard  which 
we  naturally  have  for  our  native  land,  we  pass  over  wliat  never- 
theless does  not  escape  the  eye  of  a  foreigner.  Indeed,  from  the 
consciousness  that  we  can  always  see  such  and  such  objects  of 
interest  whenever  we  please,  we  very  often  procrastinate  until  we 
never  see  them  at  all.  I  knew  an  old  gentleman  who  having 
always  resided  in  London,  every  year  declared  his  intention  of 
seeing  the  Tower  of  London  with  its  curiosities.  He  renewed 
this  declaration  every  year,  put  it  off  until  the  next,  and  has  since 
left  the  world  without  having  ever  put  his  intention  into  execution. 

That  the  Americans  would  cavil  at  portions  of  the  first  part  of 
my  work,  I  was  fully  convinced,  and  as  there  are  many  observa- 
tions quite  new  to  most  of  them,  they  are  by  them  considered  to 
be  false;  but  the  United  States,  as  I  have  before  observed,  com- 
prehend an  immense  extent  of  territory,  with  a  population  running 
from  a  state  of  refinement  down  to  one  of  positive  barbarism;  and 
although  the  Americans  travel  much,  they  travel  the  well  beaten 
paths,  in  which  that  which  is  peculiar  is  not  so  likely  to  meet  the 
eye  or  even  the  ear.  It  does  not,  therefore,  follow  that  because 
what  I  remark  is  new  to  many  of  them,  that  therefore  it  is  false. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  cities  in  the  United  States,  (and  it  is  those 
who  principally  visit  this  country,)  know  as  little  of  what  is  pass- 
ing in  Arkansas  and  Alabama  as  a  cockney  does  of  the  manners 
and  customs  of  Guernsey,  Jersey,  and  the  Isle  of  Man. 

The  other  day,  one  American  lady  observed  that  "it  was  too 
bad  of  Captain  Marryat  to  assert  that  ladies  in  America  carried 
pigtail  in  their  work-boxes  to  present  to  the  gentlemen;"  adding, 
"I  never  heard  or  saw  such  a  thing  in  all  my  life."    Very  pog- 

VOL.  I. — 1 


il 

i 


:1 
i) 

1 


1 


MARBYAT'S  DIARY. 


sible;  and  had  I  stated  that  at  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Boston, 
or  Charleston,  such  was  the  practice,  she  then  might  have  been 
justifiably  indignant.  But  1  have  been  very  particular  in  my 
localities,  both  injustice  to  myself  and  the  Americans,  and  if  they 
will  be  content  to  confine  their  animadversions  to  the  observations 
upon  the  State  to  which  they  belong,  or  my  general  observations 
upon  the  country  and  government,  1  shall  then  be  content;  if,  on 
the  contrary,  their  natural  vanity  will  not  allow  any  remarks  to  be 
made  upon  the  peculiarities  of  one  portion  of  society  without  con- 
sidering them  as  a  reflection  upon  the  whole  of  the  Union,  all  I 
can  say  is  that  they  must,  and  will  be  annoyed. 

The  answer  made  to  the  lady  who  was  "wrathy"  about  the 
pigtail  was,  '^Captain  M.  has  stated  it  to  be  a  custom  in  one 
►State.     Have  you  ever  been  in  that  State?" 

"No,  I  have  not,"  replied  the  lady,  "but  I  have  never  heard  of 
it."  So  then,  on  a  vast  continent,  extending  almost  from  the  Poles 
to  the  Equator,  because  one  individual,  one  mere  mite  of  creation 
among  the  millions  (who  are  but  a  fraction  of  the  population  which 
the  country  will  support,)  has  not  heard  of  what  passes  thousands 
of  miles  from  her  abode,  therefore  it  cannot  be  true]  Instead  of 
cavilling,  let  the  American  read,  mark,  learn,  and  inwardly  digest 
all  that  I  have  already  said,  and  all  that  I  intend  to  say  in  these 
volumes;  and  although  the  work  was  not  written  for  them,  but  for 
my  own  countrymen,  they  will  find  that  I  have  done  them  friend- 
ly service. 

There  is  much  comprehended  in  the  simple  word  "travelling" 
which  heads  this  chapter,  and  it  is  by  no  means  an  unimportant 
subject,  as  the  degree  of  civilization  of  a  country,  and  many  im- 
portant peculiarities,  bearing  strongly  upon  the  state  of  society, 
are  to  be  gathered  from  the  high  road,  and  the  variety  of  entertain- 
ment for  man  and  horse;  and  I  think  that  my  remarks  on  this  sub- 
ject will  throw  as  much  light  upon  American  society  as  will  be 
found  in  any  chapter  which  I  have  written. 

In  a  country  abounding  as  America  does  with  rivers  and  rail- 
roads, and  where  locomotion  by  steam,  wherever  it  can  be  applied, 
supersedes  every  other  means  of  conveyance,  it  is  not  to  be  ex- 
pected that  the  roads  will  be  remarkably  good;  they  are,  howev- 
er, in  consequence  of  the  excellent  arrangements  of  the  townships 
and  counties,  in  the  Eastern  States,  as  good,  and  much  better, 
than  could  be  expected.  The  great  objection  to  them  is  that  they 
are  not  levelled,  but  follow  the  undulations  of  the  country,  so  that 
you  have  a  variety  of  short,  steep  ascents  and  descents  which  are 
very  trying  to  the  carriage-springs  and  very  fatiguing  to  the  tra- 
veller. Of  course  in  a  new  country  you  must  expect  to  fall  in 
with  the  delightful  varieties  of  Corduroy^  &c.,  but  wherever  the 
country  is  settled  and  the  population  sufficient  to  pay  the  expense, 
the  roads  in  America  may  be  said  to  be  as  good  as  under  circum- 
stances could  possibly  be  expected.  There  are  one  or  two  roads, 
I  believe,  not  more,  which  are  government  roads;  but,  in  general, 
the  expense  of  the  roads  is  defrayed  by  the  States. 


But,  1 

iravellir 
the  hors 
appear  t 
in  Engl 
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wards  w 
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the  Tliir 
once  we 
sidered  t 
ed  a  mil 
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Gate;  nt 
again, 
could  pe 
here  ligl 
seat  in  tl 
and  in  tl 
trotting  t 
twelve  n 
did  not  a 
bent  for\ 
The  g 
horses; 
In  a  coui 
value  \\\ 
years  ol 
omnibus 
Talkii 
cities  in 
Paris;  tl 
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London; 
the  forni 
females, 
without 
The  . 
out  to  b( 
ridden  ii 
ing  of  f 
somethi 

*  Mis: 


MARRY  AT  9  DIARY. 


3 


!i 


But,  before  I  enter  into  any  remarks  upon  the  various  modes  of 
travelling  in  America,  it  may  be  as  well  to  say  a  few  words  upon 
the  horses,  which  are  remarkably  good  in  the  United  States:  they 
appear  to  be  mori*  hardy,  and  have  much  better  hoofs,  than  ours 
in  Enffland;  throwint;  a  shoe  therefore  is  not  of  the  same  conse- 
quence  as  it  is  with  us,  for  a  horse  will  go  twenty  mil«;s  after- 
wards with  little  injury.  In  Virginia  and  Kentucky  the  horses 
are  almost  all  thorough-bred,  and  from  the  best  Knglish  stock. — 
The  distances  run  in  racing  are  much  longer  than  ours,  and  speed 
without  bottom  is  useless. 

The  Americans  are  very  fond  of  fast  trotting  horses;  I  do  not 
refer  to  rackors,  as  they  term  horses  that  trot  befor(*  and  galloj> 
behind,  but  fair  trotters,  and  they  certainly  have  a  description  of 
horse  that  we  could  not  easily  match  in  England.  At  New  York, 
the  Tliird  Avenue,  as  they  term  it,  is  the  general  rrndezvoiis.  I 
once  went  out  there  mounted  upon  Paul  Pry,  who  was  once  con- 
sidered the  fastest  horse  in  America;  at  his  full  sjired  ho  perform- 
ed a  mile  in  two  minutes  and  thirty  seconds,  ecjual  to  twenty-four 
miles  per  hour.  He  look  me  at  this  devil  of  a  pace  as  far  as  Hell 
Gate;  not  wishing  "to  intrude,"  I  pulled  up  there,  and  wenthonu? 
again.  A  pair  of  horses  in  harness  were  pointed  out  to  me  who 
could  perform  the  mile  in  two  minutes  fifty  seconds.  They  use 
here  light  four-wheeled  vehicles  which  they  call  wagons,  with  a 
seat  in  the  front  for  two  persons  and  room  for  your  luggage  behind; 
and  in  these  wagons,  with  a  pair  of  horses,  they  think  nothing  of 
trotting  them  seventy  or  eighty  miles  in  a  day,  at  the  speed  of 
twelve  miles  an  hour;  I  have  seen  the  horses  come  in,  and  they 
did  not  appear  to  suffer  from  the  fatigue.  You  seldom  see  a  horse 
bent  forward,  but  they  are  all  daisy  cutters. 

The  gentlemen  of  New  York  give  very  high  prices  for  fast 
horses;  1,000  dollars  is  not  by  any  means  an  uncommon  price. 
In  a  country  where  time  is  every  Ihing,  they  put  a  proportionate 
value  upon  speed.  Paul  Pry  is  a  tall  grey  horse  (now  thirteen 
years  old);  to  look  at,  he  would  not  fetch  £10, — the  English 
omnibusses  would  refuse  him. 

Talking  about  omnibusses,  those  of  New  Y'ork,  and  the  iner 
cities  in  America,  are  as  good  and  as  well  regulated  as  those  of 
Paris;  the  larger  ones  have  four  horses.  Not  only  their  omni- 
busses, but  their  hackney  coaches  are  very  superior  to  those  in 
London;  the  latter  are  as  clean  as  private  carriages;  and  with 
the  former  there  is  no  swearing,  no  dislocating  the  arms  of  poor 
females,  hauling  them  from  one  omnibus  to  the  other, — but  civility 
without  servility. 

The  American  stage-coaches  are  such  as  experience  has  found 
out  to  be  most  suitable  to  the  American  roads,  and  you  have  not 
ridden  in  them  five  miles  before  you  long  for  the  delightful  spring- 
ing of  four  horses  upon  the  level  roads  of  England.  They  are 
something  between  an  English  stage*  and  a  French  diligence. 


.f! 


'•r 


t 


'  > 


t:i. 


*  Miss  Martineau  in  her  work  speaks  of  that  most  delighlfxtl  of  all 


4  MAItRYAT  .S  DIARV. 

I)uilt  willi  all  the  panels  open,  on  account  of  the  excessive  heat 
of  the  summer  months.  In  wet  weather  these  panels  are  covered 
with  leatlu  r  aprons,  which  are  fixed  on  with  huttons,  a  very  in- 
snlliciont  protection  in  the  winter,  as  the  wind  blows  throujrli  iho 
intornujdiatc  spaces,  whistlin|r  into  your  ears,  and  rendering  it 
more  picrcinjr  than  if  all  was  open.  Moreover,  they  are  no  pro- 
tection a;i;;iinst  the  rain  or  snow,  both  of  which  find  their  way  in 
to  you.  The  couch  has  three  seats,  to  receive  nine  passengers; 
those  on  the  middle  scat  leaninir  hack  upon  a  stron<»'  and  hroad 
leather  brace,  which  runs  across.  This  is  very  disanreeahlc,  as 
the  centre  passengers,  when  the  panels  are  closed,  dejjrivo  the 
others  of  the  light  and  air  from  the  windows.  JJut  the  most  dis- 
agreeable feeling  arises  from  the  body  of  the  coach  not  being  upon 
si)rings,  but  hung  upon  leather  braces  running  under  it  and  sup- 
j)Qrling  it  on  each  side;  and  when  the  roads  are  bad,  or  you  ascend 
or  rapidly  descend  the  pitches  (a"  they  term  short  hills)  the  motion 
is  very  siujilar  to  that  of  being  tossed  in  a  blanket,  often  throwing 
you  up  to  the  top  of  the  coach,  so  as  to  flatten  your  hat — if  not 
your  head. 

The  drivers  are  very  skilful,  .although  they  are  generally 
young  men — indeed  often  mere  boys — for  they  soon  better  them- 
selves as  they  advance  in  life.  Very  often  they  drive  six  in 
irand;  and  if  you  are  upset,  it  is  generally  more  the  fault  of 
the  road  than  of  the  driver.  I  was  upset  twice  in  one  half 
hour  when  I  was  travelling  in  the  winter  time;  but  the  snow 
was  very   deep  at  the  time,  and   no  one  thinks  anything  of 

conveyances — an  American  stage-coach;  but  Miss  M.  is  so  very  pe- 
culiar in  her  ideas,  that  1  am  surprised  at  nothing  llial  she  says.  I 
will,  liowevcr,  quote  the  Reverend  Mr.  Ileid  against  her: — 

"1  had  no  sooner  begun  to  enter  the  coach  than  splash  went  my 
iuot  in  jnud  and  water.  I  exclaimed  with  surprise.  'Soon  be  dry, 
sir,'  was  the  reply;  while  he  withdrew  the  light,  that  I  might  not  ex- 
plore the  cause  of  complaint.  The  iact  was,  that  the  vehicle,  like 
the  liotel  and  steam-buat,  was  not  water-tight,  and  the  rain  had  found 
an  entrance.  There  was,  indeed,  in  this  coach,  as  in  most  others,  a 
iirovision  in  the  bottom,  of  holes,  to  let  off  both  water  and  dirt;  but 
here  the  dirt  had  become  mud,  and  thickened  about  the  orifices,  so 
as  to  prevent  escape.  I  found  I  was  the  only  passenger;  the  morn- 
ing was  damp  and  chilly;  the  state  of  the  coacli  added  to  the  sensa- 
tion; and  I  eagerly  looked  about  for  some  means  of  protection.  I 
drew  up  the  wooden  windows;  out  of  five  small  panes  of  glass  in  the 
sashes  three  were  broken.  I  endeavoured  to  secure  the  curtains; 
two  of  them  had  most  of  the  ties  broken,  and  flapped  in  one's  face. 
ThL've  was  no  help  in  the  coach,  so  I  looked  to  myself.  I  made  the 
best  use  I  could  of  my  garments,  and  put  myself  as  snugly  as  I  could 
in  the  coiner  of  a  stage  meant  to  accommodate  nine  persons.  My 
situation  just  then  was  not  among  the  most  cheerful.  I  could  see 
nothing;  every  where  I  could  feel  the  wind  drawn  in  upon  me;  and 
as  for  soiuids  I  had  the  calls  of  the  driver,  the  screeching  of  the 
wheels,  and  the  song  of  the  bull-frog  for  my  entertainment." — Rev. 
Mr.  Reid's  Tour,  vol.  i.  p.  100. — Very  delightful,  indeed! 


an  up< 
someti 
glectet 
passeuj 
»Some 
sued  tl 
must 
public  I 
themse 
lion 
propria 
the  pas 
])roprie 
the  pu 
The 
much 
travelle 


i 


sivc  lieat 
e  covered 
1  very  in- 
•oiiah  tho 
ideriiig  it 
re  no  pro- 
ir  way  in 
ssenjjjers; 
rui  I) road 
oabic,  as 
j)rivo  tliu 
most  dis- 
?iii{j  upon 
and  sup- 
3U  ascend 
le  motion 
throwingp 
t — if  not 

[generally 
ter  thern- 
e  six  in 
fault  of 
one  half 
he  snow 
thinjj  of 

very  pe- 
say's.     I 

ivent  my 
n  be  dry, 
t  not  ex- 
icle,  like 
ad  found 
others,  a 
dirt;  but 
ifices,  so 
le  morn- 
e  sensa- 
3tion.  I 
ss  in  the 
nirtains; 
e's  face, 
lade  the 
I  could 
IS,  My 
)uld  see 
ne;  and 
■  of  the 
"—Rev. 


MARRVAT'S  OIARV.  5 

an  upset  in  America.  More  serious  accidents  do,  iiowever, 
sometimes  happen.  When  I  ^-as  in  New  Hampshire,  a  ne- 
glected bridge  broke  down,  and  precipitated  coach,  iiorses,  and 
passengers  into  a  torrent  which  liowed  into  tho  Connecticut  river. 
»Some  of  the  passengers  were  drowned.  Those  who  were  saved, 
sued  the  township  and  recovered  damages;  but  these  mischances 
must  be  expected  in  a  new  country.  The  great  annoyance  of  these 
public  conveyances  is,  that  neither  the  proprietor  or  driver  consider 
themselves  the  servants  of  the  public;  a  stage-coach  is  a  specula- 
tion by  which  as  much  money  is  to  be  made  as  possible  by  tho 
proprietors;  and  as  the  driver  never  expects  or  demands  a  foe  from 
the  passengers,  they  or  their  comforts  are  no  concern  of  his.  The 
])roprietors  do  not  consider  that  they  are  bound  to  keep  faith  with 
the  public,  nor  do  they  care  about  any  complaints. 

The  stages  which  run  from  Cincinnati  to  the  eastward  are  very 
much  interfered  with  when  the  Ohio  river  is  full  of  water,  as  the 
travellers  prefer  the  steam-boats;  but  the  very  moment  that  the 
water  is  so  low  on  the  Ohio  that  the  steam-boats  cannot  ascend 
the  river  up  to  Wheeling,  double  the  price  is  demanded  by  the 
proprietors  of  the  coaches.  They  are  quite  regardless  as  to  the 
opinion  or  good-will  of  the  public;  they  do  not  care  for  either,  all 
they  want  is  their  money,  and  they  are  perfectly  indifferent  whether 
you  break  your  neck  or  not.  The  great  evil  arising  from  this  state 
of  hostility,  as  you  may  almost  call  it,  is  the  disregard  of  life  which 
renders  travelling  so  dangerous  in  America.  You  are  completely 
at  the  mercy  of  the  drivers,  who  are,  generally  speaking,  very 
good-tempered,  but  sometimes  (juite  the  contrary;  and  I  have  often 
been  amused  with  the  scenes  which  have  taken  place  between  them 
and  the  passengers.  As  for  myself,  when  the  weather  permitted 
it,  I  invariably  went  outside,  which  the  Americans  seldom  do,  and 
was  always  very  good  friends  with  the  drivers.  They  are  full  of 
local  information,  and  often  very  amusing.  There  is,  however,  a 
great  difference  in  the  behaviour  of  the  drivers  of  the  mails,  and 
coaches  which  are  timed  by  the  post-office,  and  others  which  are 
not.  If  beyond  his  time,  the  driver  is  mulcted  by  the  proprietors; 
and  when  dollars  are  in  the  question,  there  is  an  end  to  all  urbanity 
and  civility. 

A  gentleman  of  my  acquaintance  was  in  a  mail  which  was  be- 
hind time,  and  the  driver  was  proceeding  at  such  a  furious  pace 
that  one  jerk  threw  a  lady  to  the  top  of  the  coach,  and  the  teeth  of 
her  comb  entering  her  head,  she  fainted  with  pain.  The  passen- 
gers called  out  to  the  driver  to  stop.  "What  for]*'  "That  last 
jerk  has  struck  the  lady,  and  she  has  fainted."  "Oh,  that's  all! 
Well,  I  reckon  I'll  give  her  another  jerk,  which  will  bring  her  to 
again."  Strange  to  say,  he  prophecied  right;  the  next  jerk  was 
very  violent,  and  t'  e  lady  recovered  her  senses. 

Mr.E.,  an  employe  of  the  American  government,  was  travelling 
in  the  state  of  Indiana — the  passengers  had  slept  at  an  inn,  and  the 
coach  was  ready  at  the  door,  but  Mr.  E.  had  not  quite  finished  his 
1* 


i 


ri[ 


(I 

H 


hb 


'IV 


t 


i4 


MAnnVAT  8  DIARV. 


toilet;  llio  driver  dispatched  the  bar-keeper  for  him,  and  Mr,  E. 
Hoiit  word  ho  would  bi>  down  iininediatuly. 

"What  is  he  about]"  said  thu  driver  impatiently  to  the  bar- 
keeper when  he  cauio  down  again. 

♦•Cleaning  his  leoih." 

"(.7t«;i/«if  his  U'clh!^^  roared  the  driver,  indi^rnantly;  "by  the 
,"  and  away  went  the  horses  at  a  gallop,  leaving  Mr.  E.  be- 
hind. 

Tht*  other  passengers  remonstrated,  but  without  avail;  they  told 
him  that  Mr.  E.  was  charged  with  government  despatches — he 
didn't  care;  at  last,  one  of  them  oll'ered  him  a  dollar  if  he  would 
go  back.  They  had  proceeded  more  than  a  mile  before  the  offer 
was  made;  the  man  immediately  wheeled  his  horses  round,  and 
returned  to  the  inn. 

The  liev.  Mr.  Keid  gives  an  anecdote  very  characteristic  of 
Amorieau  stage-coach  travelling,  and  proving  how  little  the  con- 
venience of  the  public  is  cared  tor. 

"When  we  stopped  at  Lowell  to  change  horses,  a  female  wished 
to  secure  a  place  onward.  We  were  already,  as  the  phrase  is, 
more  than  full;  we  had  nine  persons,  and  two  children,  which  are 
made  to  go  for  nothing,  except  in  the  way-bill.  Our  saucy  driver 
oj)cned  the  door,  and  .♦.ddressing  two  men,  who,  with  us,  would 
have  been  outside  passengers — 'Now,  I  say,  I  want  one  of  you  to 
ride  with  me,  and  let  a  lady  have  your  seat.'  The  men  felt  they 
were  addressed  by  a  superior,  but  kept  their  places.  'Come,  1  say,' 
he  continued,  'you  shall  have  a  good  buffalo  and  umbreU  and  no- 
thing will  hurt  you.'  Still  they  kept  their  places,  and  refused 
him^  His  lordship  was  offended,  and  ready  to  lay  hands  on  one 
of  them;  but,  checking  himself,  exclaimed,  »Well,  if  I  can't  get 
you  out,  hang  it  if  I'll  take  you  on  till  one  of  you  gets  out.'  And 
there  we  stood  for  some  time;  and  he  gained  his  point  at  last,  and 
in  civiller  terms,  by  persuading  the  persons  on  the  middle  seat  to 
receive  the  lady;  so  that  we  had  now  twelve  inside." 

I  once  myself  was  in  a  stage-coach,  and  found  that  the  window 
glasses  had  been  taken  out;  I  mentioned  this  to  the  driver,  as  it 
rained  in  very  fast — "Well,  now,"  replied  he,  "I  reckon  you'd 
better  ax  the  proprietors;  my  business  is  to  drive  the  coach." 
And  that  was  all  the  comfort  I  could  procure.  As  for  speaking  to 
them  about  stopping,  or  driving  slow,  it  is  considered  as  an  un- 
warrantable interference. 

I  recollect  an  Englishman  at  New  York  telling  me,  that  when 
in  the  Eastern  States,  he  had  expressed  a  wish  to  go  a  little  faster 
— "Oh,"  said  the  driver,  "you  do,  do  you;  well,  wait  a  moment, 
and  I'll  go  faster  than  you  like."  The  fellow  drove  very  slow 
where  the  road  was  good;  but  as  soon  as  he  came  to  a  bad  piece, 
he  put  his  horses  to  the  gallop,  and,  as  my  friend  said,  they  were 
so  tossed  and  tumbled  about,  that  they  hardly  knew  where  they 
were.  "Is  that  fast  enough,  Mister/'  said  the  driver,  leering  in 
at  the  coach  window. 

As  for  stopping,  they  will  stop  to  talk  to  any  one  on  the  road 


I' 


MARRYAT  8  DIAHV. 


id  Mr.  E. 
)  the  bar> 


"by  the 
Ir.  E.  be- 

thoy  told 
ches — he 
he  would 

the  offer 
lund,  and 

pristic  of 
the  con- 

0  wished 
hrase  is, 
v'hich  are 
cy  driver 
s,  would 
)f  you  to 
felt  they 
;,  I  say,' 
and  no< 

refused 
3  on  one 
an't  get 

■  And 
ast,  and 

seat  to 

window 
3r,  as  it 
n  you'd 
coach." 
iking  to 
an  un- 

when 
e  faster 
oment, 
y  slow 

piece, 
y  were 
re  they 
ring  in 

B  road 


about  the  price  of  the  markets,  the  news,  or  any  thing  else;  and 
the  same  aecoininudation  is  cheertully  given  to  any  paHseiigerwho 
has  any  business  tu  transact  on  the  way.  'IMie  Americans  are  ac< 
customed  to  it,  and  tlie  passengers  never  raise  any  nbjections. 
There  is  a  spirit  of  accommodation,  arising  from  their  natural 
good  temper.* 

I  was  once  in  a  coucli  when  the  driver  pulled  up,  and  entered 
a  small  house  on  the  road  side;  after  he  had  been  there  some  time, 
as  it  was  not  an  inn,  I  expressed  my  wonder  wliat  he  was  about. 
**I  guess  1  can  tell  you,"  said  a  man  who  was  standing  by  the 
coach,  and  overheard  me;  "there's  a  pretty  yirl  in  that  house,  and 
he's  doing  a  bit  of  courting,  I  expect."  ►Such  was  the  fact:  the 
passengers  laughed,  and  waited  for  him  very  patiently.  Ho  re- 
mained about  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  and  then  came  out.  The 
time  was  no  doubt  to  him  very  short;  but  to  us  it  appeared  rather 
tedious. 

Mrs.  Jarnieson,  in  her  last  work,  says:  "One  dark  niijht,  I  re- 
member, as  the  sleet  and  rain  were  falling  fast,  and  our  Kxtra  was 
slowly  dragged  by  wretched  brutes  of  horses  through  what  seem- 
ed to  me  'Slouyhs  of  Despond,'  some  package  ill  stowed  on  the 
roof,  which  in  the  American  stages  presents  no  resting-place  for 
man  or  box,  fell  otl".  The  driver  aliglited  to  fish  it  out  of  the  mud. 
As  there  was  some  delay,  a  gentleman  seated  opposite  to  mo  put 
his  head  out  of  window  to  in(|uire  the  cause;  to  whom  the  driver's 
voice  replied,  in  an  angry  tone,  'I  say,  you  mister,  don't  you  sit 
jabbering  there;  but  lend  a  hand  to  heave  these  things  aboard!' 
To  my  surprise,  the  gentleman  did  not  appear  struck  by  the  in- 
solence of  this  summons,  but  immediately  jumped  out  and  render- 
ed his  assistance.  This  is  merely  the  manner  of  the  people.  The 
driver  intended  no  insolence,  nor  was  it  taken  as  such;  and  my 
fellow-travellers  could  not  help  laughing  at  my  surprise." 

I  have  mentioned  these  little  anecdotes,  as  they  may  amuse  the 
reader;  but  it  must  be  understood  that,  generally  speaking,  the 
drivers  are  very  good-natured  and  obliging,  and  tlie  passengers 
very  accommodating  to  each  other,  and  submitting  with  a  good 
grace  to  what  cannot  be  ameliorated. 

CHAPTER  II. 

TRAVELLING. 

In  making  my  observations  upon  the  rail-road  and  steam-boat 

*  This  spirit  of  accommodation  produces  what  would  at  first  ap- 
pear to  be  rudeness,  but  is  not  intended  for  it.  When  you  travel,  or 
indeed  when  walking  the  streets  in  the  Western  country,  if  you 
have  a  cigar  in  your  mouth,  a  man  will  come  up — "Beg  pardon, 
stranger,"  and  whips  your  cigar  out  of  your  moutn,  lights  his  own, 
and  then  returns  your's.  I  thought  it  rather  cool  at  first,  but  as  I 
found  it  was  the  practice,  I  invariably  did  the  same  whenever  I 
needed  a  light. 


8 


MARRY AT'S  DIARY. 


& 


travelling  in  the  United  States,  I  shall  point  out  some  facts  with 
which  the  reader  must  be  made  acquainted.  The  Americans  are 
a  restless,  locomotive  people:  whether  for  business  or  pleasure, 
they  are  ever  on  the  move  in  their  own  country,  and  they  move  in 
masses.  There  is  but  one  conveyance,  it  may  be  said,  for  every 
class  of  people,  the  coach,  rail-road,  or  steam-boat,  as  well  as 
most  of  the  hotels,  being  open  to  all;  the  consequence  is  that  the 
society  is  very  much  mixed — the  millionaire,  the  well-educated 
woman  of  the  highest  rank,  the  senator,  the  member  of  Congress, 
the  farmer,  the  emigrant,  the  swindler,  and  the  pick-pocket,  are 
all  liable  to  meet  together  in  the  same  vehicle  of  conveyance. 
Some  conventional  rules  were  therefore  necessary,  and  those  rules 
have  been  made  by  public  opinion — a  power  to  which  all  must 
submit  in  America.  The  one  most  important,  and  without  which 
it  would  be  impossible  to  travel  in  such  a  gregarious  way,  is  an 
universal  deference  and  civility  shewn  to  the  women,  who  may  in 
consequence  travel  without  protection  all  over  the  United  States 
without  the  least  chance  of  annoyance  or  insult.  This  deference 
paid  to  the  sex  is  highly  creditable  to  the  Americans;  it  exists 
from  one  end  of  the  Union  to  the  other;  indeed,  in  the  Southern 
and  more  lawless  States,  it  is  even  more  chivalric  than  in  the  more 
settled.  Let  a  female  be  ever  so  indifferently  clad,  whatever  her 
appea'ance  may  be,  still  it  is  sufficient  that  she  is  a  female;  she 
has  the  first  accommodation,  and  until  she  has  it,  no  man  will 
think  of  himself.  But  this  deference  is  not  only  shewn  in  travel- 
ling, but  in  every  instance.  An  English  lady  told  me,  that  wish- 
ing to  be  present  at  the  inauguration  of  Mr.  Van  Buren,  by  some 
mistake,  she  and  her  daughters  alighted  from  the  carriage  at  the 
wrong  entrance,  and  in  attempting  to  force  their  way  through  a 
dense  crowd  were  nearly  crushed  to  death.  This  was  perceived, 
and  the  word  was  given — 'Make  room  for  the  ladies.'  The  whole 
crowd,  as  if  by  one  simultaneous  effort,  compressed  itself  to  the 
right  and  left,  locking  themselves  together  to  meet  the  enormous 
pressure,  and  made  a  wide  lane,  through  which  they  passed  with 
ease  and  comfort.  "It  reminded  me  of  the  Israelites  passing 
through  the  Red  Sea  with  the  wall  of  waters  on  each  side  of 
them,"  observed  the  lady.  "In  any  other  country  we  must  have 
been  crushed  to  death." 

When  I  was  on  board  one  of  the  steam-boats,  an  American 
asked  one  of  the  ladies  to  what  she  would  like  to  be  helped.  She 
replied,  to  some  turkey,  which  was  within  reach,  and  off  of  which 
a  pasnenger  had  just  cut  the  wing  and  transferred  it  to  his  own 
plate.  The  American  who  had  received  the  lady's  wishes,  im- 
mediately pounced  with  his  fork  upon  the  wing  of  the  turkey  and 
carried  it  off  to  the  young  lady's  plate;  the  only  explanation  given, 
*^For  a  lady,  Sir!^^  was  immediately  admitted  as  sutficient. 

The  authority  of  the  captain  of  a  steam-boat  is  never  disputed; 
if  it  were,  the  offender  would  be  landed  on  the  beach.  I  was  on 
board  of  a  steam-boat  when,  at  tea  time,  a  young  man  sat  down 
with  his  hat  on. 


MARRY AT's  diary. 


9 


facts  with 
iricans  are 
r  pleasure, 
iy  move  in 
i  for  every 
as  well  as 
s  that  the 
1-educated 
Congress, 
tocket,  are 
nveyance. 
hose  rules 

all  must 
out  which 
i^ay,  is  aa 
ho  may  in 
ted  States 
deference 

it  exists 
Southern 
I  the  more 
itever  her 
nale;  she 
man  will 
in  travel- 
lat  wish- 
by  some 
e  at  tiie 
trough  a 
erceived, 
be  whole 
If  to  the 
normous 
3ed  with 

passing 
I  side  of 
list  have 

merican 
!d.  She 
if  which 
bis  own 
les,  im- 
key  and 
n  given, 

sputed; 
was  on 
t  down 


(( 


You  are  in  the  company  of  ladi'^s,  Sir,"  observed  the  captain 
very  civilly,  "and  I  must  request  you  to  take  your  hat  off." 

"Are  you  the  captain  of  the  boat?"  observed  the  young  man,  in 
a  sulky  tone. 

"Yes,  Sir,  I  am." 

"Well,  then,  I  suppose  I  miret,"  growled  the  passenger,  as  he 
obeyed. 

But  if  the  stewards,  who  are  men  of  colour,  were  to  attempt  to 
enforce  the  order,  they  would  meet  with  such  a  rebuff  as  I  have 
myself  heard  given. 

"If  it's  the  captain's  orders,  let  the  captain  come  and  give  them. 
I'm  not  going  to  obey  a  JVigger  like  you." 

Perhaps  it  is  owing  to  this  deference  to  the  sex  that  you  will 
observe  that  the  Americans  almost  invariably  put  on  their  best 
clothes  when  they  travel;  such  is  the  case  whatever  may  be  the 
cause;  and  the  ladies  in  America,  travelling  or  not,  are  always 
well,  if  not  expensively  dressed.  They  don't  all  swap  bonnets 
as  the  two  young  ladies  did  in  the  stage-coach  in  Vermont. 

But,  notwithstanding  the  decorum  so  well  preserved  as  I  have 
mentioned,  there  are  some  annoyances  to  be  met  with  from  gre- 
garious travelling.  One  is,  that  occasionally  a  family  of  interest- 
ing young  citizens  who  are  suffering  from  the  hooping-oongh, 
small-pox,  or  any  other  complaint,  are  brought  on  board,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  medical  gentlemen  having  recommended  change 
of  air.  Of  course  the  other  children,  or  even  adults,  may  take  the 
infection,  but  they  are  not  refused  admittance  upon  such  trifling 
grounds;  the  profits  of  the  steam  boat  must  not  be  interfered  with. 

Of  all  travelling,  I  think  that  by  railroad  the  most  fatiguing, 
especially  in  America.  After  a  certain  time  the  constant  coughing 
of  the  locomotive,  the  dazzling  of  the  vision  from  the  rapidity  with 
which  objects  are  passed,  the  sparks  and  ashes  which  fly  in  your 
face  and  on  your  clothes  become  very  annoying;  your  only  conso- 
lation is  the  speed  with  which  you  are  passing  over  the  ground. 

The  railroads  in  America  are  not  so  well  made  as  in  England, 
and  are  therefore  more  dangerous;  but  it  must  be  remembered  that 
at  present  nothing  is  made  in  America  but  to  last  a  certain  time; 
they  go  to  the  exact  expense  considered  necessary  and  no  further; 
they  know  that  in  twenty  years  they  will  be  better  able  to  spend 
twenty  dollars  than  one  now.  The  great  object  is  to  obtain  quick 
returns  for  the  outlay,  and,  except  in  few  instances,  durability  or 
permanency  is  not  thought  of.  One  great  cause  of  disasters  is, 
that  the  railroads  are  not  fenced  on  the  sides,  so  as  to  keep  the 
cattle  off  them,  and  it  appears  as  if  the  cattle  who  range  the  woods 
are  very  partial  to  take  their  naps  on  the  roads,  probably  from 
their  being  drier  than  the  other  portions  of  the  soil.  It  is  impos- 
sible to  say  how  many  cows  have  been  cut  into  atoms  by  the 
trains  in  America,  but  the  frequent  accidents  arising  from  these 
causes  hos  occasioned  the  Americans  to  invent  a  sort  of  shovei, 
attached  to  the  front  of  the  locomotive,  which  takes  up  a  cow, 
tossing  her  off  right  or  left.    At  every  fifteen  miles  of  the  rail- 


i  !    -■ 


!if; 


ML.*' 


('••i 


to 


MARRYAT^S   DIARY. 


roads  there  are  refreshment  rooms;  the  cars  stop,  all  the  doors  are 
thrown  open,  and  out  rush  the  passengers  like  boys  out  of  school, 
and  crowd  round  the  tables  to  solace  themselves  with  pies,  patties, 
cakes,  hard-boiled  eggs,  ham,  custards,  and  a  variety  of  railroad 
luxuries,  too  numerous  to  mention.  The  bell  rings  for  departure, 
in  ihey  all  hurry  with  their  hands  and  mouths  full,  and  olf  they 
go  again,  until  the  next  stopping  place  induces  them  to  relieve 
the  monotony  of  the  journey  by  masticating  without  being  hungry. 

The  Utica  railroad  is  the  best  in  the  United  States.  The 
general  average  of  speed  is  from  fourteen  to  sixteen  miles  an 
hour;  but  on  the  Utica  they  go  much  faster.*  A  gentleman  nar- 
rated to  me  a  singular  specimen  of  the  ruling  passion  which  he 
witnessed  on  an  occasion  when  the  rail-cars  were  thrown  off  the 
road,  and  nearly  one  hundred  people  killed,  or  injured  in  a  greater 
or  less  degree. 

On  the  side  of  the  road  lay  a  man  with  his  leg  so  severely  frac- 
tured, that  the  bone  had  been  forced  through  the  skin,  and  project- 
ed outside  his  trowsers.  Over  him  hung  his  wife,  with  the  utmost 
solicitude,  the  blood  running  down  from  a  severe  cut  received  on 
her  head,  and  kneeling  by  his  side  was  his  sister,  who  was  also 
much  injured.  The  poor  women  were  lamenting  over  him,  and 
thinking  nothing  of  their  own  hurts;  and  he,  it  appears,  was  also 
thinking  nothing  about  his  injury,  but  only  lamenting  the  delay 
which  would  be  occasioned  by  it. 

*'0h!  my  dear,  dear  Isaac,  what  can  be  done  with  your  leg?" 
exclaimed  the  wife  in  the  deepest  distress. 

"What  will  become  of  my  leg!"  cried  the  man.  "What's  to 
become  of  my  business,  I  should  like  to  knowl" 

"Oh!  dear  brother,"  said  the  other  female,  "don't  think  about 
your  business  now;  think  of  getting  cured." 

"Think  of  getting  cured — I  must  think  how  the  bills  are  to  be 
met,  and  I  not  there  to  take  them  up.  They  will  be  presented  as 
sure  as  I  lie  here." 

"Oh!  never  mind  the  bills,  dear  husband — think  of  your  precious 
leg." 

"Not  mind  the  bills!  but  I  must  mind  the  bills — my  credit  will 
be  ruined." 

"Not  when  they  know  what  has  happened,  brother.  Oh!  dear, 
dear — that  leg,  that  leg." 

"D — n  the  leg;  what's  to  become  of  my  business,"  groaned  the 
man,  falling  on  his  back  from  excess  of  pain. 

Now  this  was  a  specimen  of  true  commercial  spirit.  If  this 
man  had  not  been  nailed  to  the  desk,  he  might  have  been  a  hero. 

I  shall  conclude  this  chapter  with  an  extract  from  an  American 
author,  which  will  give  some  idea  of  the  indifference  as  to  loss  of 
life  in  the  United  States. 

*The  railroads  finished  in  America  in  1835  amounted  in  length  to 
1,600  miles;  those  in  progress,  and  not  yet  complete,  to  1,270  miles 
more.  The  canals  completed  were  in  length  2,687 miles;  unfinished, 
500  miles. 


"Evel 
of  the 
running! 
bones; 
head,  lil 
writing  1 
clined 
two  leg| 
carried 
replied 
waiting  I 


The 

the  sam 
steam  b( 
extent  o 
of  the  p 

Missour 

Do. 
Mississi] 

Do. 

Arkansa 

St.  Lawi 

Platte  R 

Red  Riv 

Ohio  Ri 

Columbi 

Kanzas 

Yellows 

Tenness 

Alabam 

Cumber 

Susquel 

Illinois 

Appala( 

St.  Johr 

Connec 

Wabasl 

Delawa 

James  1 

Roanoh 

Great  I 

San  tee 

Potoms 

Hudsoi 

Altamt 

Savani 


MARRYAT^S   DIART. 


11 


doors  are 
of  school, 
s,  patties, 
Qf  railroad 
departure, 
I  off  they 
to  relieve 
g  hungry, 
les.  The 
miles  an 
?man  nar- 
ivhich  he 
^n  off  the 
a  greater 

rely  frac- 
1  project- 
le  utmost 
;eived  on 
was  also 
him,  and 
was  also 
;he  delay 

ar  leg?" 

/^hat's  to 

ik  about 

\te  to  be 
ented  as 

precious 

idit  will 

h!  dear, 

ned  the 

If  this 

a  hero. 

nerican 

loss  of 

ngth  to 
0  miles 
nished, 


"Every  now  and  then  is  a  tale  of  railroad  disaster  in  some  part 
of  the  country,  at  inclined  planes,  or  intersecting  points,  or  by 
running  off  the  track,  making  splinters  of  the  cars,  and  of  men's 
bones;  and  locomotives  have  been  known  to  encounter,  head  to 
head,  like  two  rams  fighting.  A  little  while  previous  to  the 
writing  of  these  lines,  a  locomotive  and  tender  shot  down  the  in- 
clined plain  at  Philadelphia,  like  a  falling  star.  A  woman,  with 
two  legs  broken  by  this  accident,  was  put  into  an  omnibus,  to  be 
carried  to  the  hospital,  but  the  driver,  m  his  speculations,  coolly 
replied  to  a  man,  who  asked  why  he  did  not  go  onl — that  he  was 
waiting  for  a  full  load.'*''* 

CHAPTER  III. 

TRAVELLING. 

The  most  general,  the  most  rapid,  the  most  agreeable,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  the  most  dangerous,  of  American  travelling  is  by 
steam  boats.  It  will  be  as  well  to  give  the  reader  an  idea  of  the 
extent  of  this  navigation  by  putting  before  him  the  lengths  of  some 
of  the  principal  rivers  in  the  United  States. 

MILES. 

Missouri  and  Mississippi 4490 

Do.       to  its  junction  with  the  Mississippi       3181 

Mississippi  proper,  to  its  junction  with  the  Missouri    -    -    -  1600 

Do.           to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 2910 

Arkansas  River,  a  branch  of  the  Mississippi 2170 

St.  Lawrence  River,  including  the  Lakes       2075 

Platte  River,  a  branch  of  the  Missouri 1600 

-  -  1500 

-  -  1372 

-  -  1315 

-  -  1200 

-  -  1100 

-  -  756 

-  -  575 


Red  River,  a  branch  of  the  Mississippi       -    -    -    - 

Ohio  River,        Do.    -    -    -    Do.         

Columbia  River,  empties  into  the  Pacific  Ocean 
Kan zas  River,  a  branch  of  the  Missouri    -    -    -    - 
Yellowstone  Do.    -----    Do.    -    -    -    -    - 
Tennessee     Do,    -    -    -    -     Ohio      -    -    -    -    - 
Alabama  River,  empties  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico    - 

Cumberland  River,  a  branch  of  the  Ohio 570 

Susquehanna  River,  empties  into  Chesapeake  Bay  -  -  -  460 
Illinois  River,  a  branch  of  the  Mississippi  .---..  430 
Appalachicola  River,  empties  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  -  -  425 
St.  John's  River,  New  Brunswick,  rises  in  Maine  -  -  -  -  415 
Connecticut  River,  empties  into  Long  Island  Sound    -    ■•    -      410 

Wabash  River,  a  branch  of  the  Ohio 360 

Delaware  River,  empties  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean  -  -  -  -  355 
James  River,  empties  into  Chesapeake  Bay 350 


Roanoke  River, 
Great  Pedee  River, 
Santee  River, 
Potomac  River,    - 
Hudson  River,     - 
Altamaha  River, 
Savannah  River, 


Albemarle  Sound       -----  350 

-  Atlantic  Ocean     ------  350 

Do.  340 

-  Chesapeake  Bay 335 

-  Atlantic  Ocean 320 

Do.  300 

Do.  290 

♦Voice  from  America. 


\'-:t\ 


l\     J. 


h 


It. 

I!"  I 


w 


III 

'■■\ 

$ 

l:i 


13 


MARRY AT's  diary. 


Many  of  the  largest  of  these  rivers  are  at  present  running 
through  deserts — others  possess  but  a  scanty  population  on  their 
banks;  but,  as  the  west  fills  up,  they  will  be  teeming  with  life, 
and  the  harvest  of  industry  will  freight  many  more  hundreds  of 
vessels  than  those  which  at  present  disturb  their  waters. 

The  Americans  have  an  idea  that  they  are  very  far  a-head  of  us 
in  steam  navigation,  a  great  error  which  I  could  not  persuade 
them  of.  In  the  first  place,  their  machinery  is  not  by  any  means 
equal  to  ours;  in  the  next,  they  have  no  sea-going  steam  vessels, 
which  after  all  is  the  great  desideratum  of  steam  navigation. 
Even  in  the  number  and  tonnage  of  their  mercantile  steam  vessels 
they  are  not  equal  to  us,  as  I  shall  presently  show,  nor  have  they 
yet  arrived  to  that  security  in  steam  navigation  which  we  have. 

The  return  of  vessels  belonging  to  the  Mercantile  Steam  Marine 
of  Great  Britain,  made  by  the  Commissioners  on  the  Report  of 
steam-vessel  accidents  in  1839,  is,  number  of  vessels,  810;  ton- 
nage, 157,840;  horse  power,  63,250. 

Mr.  Levi  Woodbury's  Report  to  Congress  in  December,  1838, 
states  the  number  of  American  steam  vessels  to  be  800,  and  the 
tonnage  to  be  155,473;  horse  power,  57,019. 

It  is  but  fair  to  state,  that  the  Americans  have  the  credit  of 
having  sent  the  first  steam  vessel  across  the  Atlantic.  In  1819, 
a  steam  vessel,  built  at  New  York,  crossed  from  Savannah  to 
Liverpool  in  twenty-six  days. 

The  number  of  sea-going  steam  vessels  in  England  is  hvo  hun- 
dred and  eighty-iwOf  while  in  the  United  States  they  have  not 
more  than  ten  at  the  outside  calculation.  In  the  size  of  our  ves- 
sels also  we  are  far  superior  to  them.  I  here  insert  a  table,  shew- 
ing the  dimensions  of  our  largest  vessels,  as  given  in  the  Report 
to  the  House  of  Commons,  and  another  of  the  largest  American 
vessels  collected  from  the  Report  of  Mr.  Levi  Woodbury  to  Con- 
gress. 

Table — Shcwim^  some  of  the  Dimensions,  of  (he  Hull  and  Machinery 
of  ike  Five  iarecst  Ships  yet  built  or  building. 


Dimensions. 

Great 

Liverpool. 

British 

"resident. 

United 

Western. 

(iueen. 

Kingdom. 

Extreme  lengtli    -       -       •    feet 

236 

223 

275 

265 

.^ 

Do.           under  deck        „ 

212 

216 

245 

238 

206 

Do.          keel                  „ 

205 

209    Sin. 

225 

220 

198 

Breadth  within  the  paddle-boxes 

35    4  in. 

30  10  in. 

40 

41 

36    6  in. 

Do.      including       do.           „ 

69    Sin. 

56    Sin. 

64 

64 

— 

Depth  of  hold  at  midshipi           „ 

23    2  in. 

19    8  In. 

27    6  in. 

23    6  in. 

22 

Tom  of  space        ■       •       •      „ 

679  1-2 

5591-2 

1,053 

— 



Tonnage  of  engine-room             „ 

6111-2 

581 

9(i3 

— 

— 

Total  tonnage      -       -       -    tons 

l,32t 

1,140  1-2 

2,016 

1,S40 

1,400 

Power  of  engines         -         horsa 

450 

468 

500 

640 

450 

Diameter  of  cylinders           inches 

73 

75 

77  1-2 

80 

73 

Length  of  stroke         -       -      fed 

7 

7 

7 

7  1-2 

7 

Diameter  of  paddle-wheels          „ 

28    9  in. 

28    Sin. 

30    6  in. 

31 

28 

Total   weight  of  engines,  >,^. 
boilen.ihdwater,    -    -    j'"^ 

480 

450 

500 

500 

450 

Total  weight  of  coals,  20  } 

days' consumption,    -    .   j     » 
"iotal  weight  of  cargo,    -       -    „ 

600 
250 

600 
200 

750 
500 

750 
750 

— 

Dnugbt  of  water,  with    *) 

tbe   above    weight    of    )■  fttt 

16    Sin. 

16    Sin. 

18    Tin. 

17 

_- 

stores     J 

Natcl 

Illino 
Madi 
Butia 

Ma.ssi 

Uncle 

Mogu 
Med  it 
Nort 
St.  Lo 

Butth 
cans,  is 
4Jnited  I 
a  list  oft 
their  tonr 

Acheron 

Adder 

Advice 

African 

Alban 

Ariel 

Asp 

Avon 

Beaver 

Blazer 

Boxer 

Carron 

Charon 

Columbia 

Comet 

Confiance 

Cuckoo 

Cyclops 

Dasher 

Dee 

Doterel 

Echo 


Alecto 

Ardent 

Dover 

I  trust 
we  are  a 
their  isol 
countries. 

VOL.  I.' 


MARRY AT's  diary. 


13 


t  running 
1  on  their 
with  life, 
jndreds  of 

lead  of  us 
;  persuade 
ny  means 
n  vessels, 
avigation. 
m  vessels 
have  they 
B  have, 
m  Marine 
Report  of 
810;  ton- 

ler,  1838, 
I,  and  the 

credit  of 
In  1819, 
annah  to 

hvo  hun- 

have  not 

our  ves- 

le,  shew- 

Report 

imerican 

to  Con- 


^achincry 


I'nited 
Kineclom. 


206 
198 
36   6  in. 

22 


400 

450 

73 

7 

2S 

450 


Tons. 

Horse 
Power. 

Natchez  .    .    . 

800 

300 

C  Between  New  Yorii 
\       and  Mis;»i.ssippi. 

Illinois    .    .     . 

75.5 

Lake  Erie. 

Madison      .    . 

700 

Buffalo    .    .    . 

G13 

Ma.ssachusetts 

G2G 

Sound. 

Uncle  Sam 

447 

" 

t  Mississippi  and  Ohio 
\             Rivers. 

Mogul     .    .    . 

414 

Mediterranean 

41)0 

)) 

North  America 

445 

St.  Louis      .     . 

550 

But  the  point  on  which  we  are  so  vastly  superior  to  the  Ameri- 
cans, is  in  our  steam  vessels  of  war.  They  have  but  one  in  the 
4Jnited  States,  named  the  Fulton  the  Second.  The  following  is 
a  list  of  those  belonging  to  the  Government  of  Great  Britain,  with 
their  tonnajje: — 


Acheron 

Adder 

Advice 

African 

Alban 

Ariel 

Asp 

Avon 

Beaver 

Blazer 

Boxer 

Carron 

Charon 

Columbia 

Comet 

Confiance 

Cuciioo 

Cyclops 

Dasher 

Dee 

Doterel 

Echo 

Alecto 
Ardent 
Dover 


Ton.s, 
722 
237 
175 
295 
294 
149 
112 
361 
128 
527 
159 
294 
125 
360 
238 
295 
234 
1190 

.  260 
704 
723 
298 


Fearless 

Firebrand 

Fire  Fly 

Flamer 

Fury 

Gleaner 

Gar  go  n 

Hecate 

Hecla 

Hermes 

Hydra 

Jasper 

Kite 

Lightning 

Lucifer 

Medea 

Medusa 

Megaera 

Merlin 

Messenger 

Meteor 

Monkey 


Tons. 

165  Myrtle 

495  Otter 
550  Pha'nix 

496  Pigmy 

166  Piife 
306  Pluto 

1111  Prospero 

815  Redwing 

815  Radamanthus 

716  Salamander 
818  Shearwater 
230  Spitfire 
300  Sprightly 
296  Strombolo 
387  Swallow 
835  Tartarus 
889  Urgent 

717  Vesuvius 
889  Volcano 
733  Widgeon 
296  Wildfire 
211  Zephyr 


Tons. 
116 
237 
809 
230 
112 
365 
244 
139 
813 
818 
343 
553 
234 
966 
133 
523 


Government  Steam  Vessels  Building. 
799        Lizard  *  282        Polyphemus 

799        Locust  282        Prometheus 

Iron       Medina  889 


966 
720 
164 

m\ 

237 


799 
799 


I  trust  that  the  above  statements  will  satisfy  the  Americans  that 
we  are  ahead  of  them  in  steam  navigation.  In  consequence  of 
their  isolation,  and  having  no  means  of  comparison  with  other 
countries,  the  Americans  see  only  their  own  progress,  and  seem 

VOL.  1. — 2 


I  '.■; 

■'■>  (>( 
If  n' 


14 


marrtat's  diary. 


to  have  forgotten  that  other  nations  advance  as  well  as  themselves. 
They  appear  to  imagine  that  while  they  are  going  ahead  all  others 
are  standing  still:  forgetting  that  England  with  her  immense  re- 
sources is  much  more  likely  to  surpass  them  than  to  be  left  behind. 
We  must  now  examine  the  question  of  the  proportionate  security 
in  steam  boat  travelling  in  the  two  countries.  The  following 
table,  extracted  from  the  Report  of  the  Commissioners  on  Steam 
boat  Accidents,  will  show  the  casualties  which  have  occurred  in 
this  country  in  ten  years. 


Vessels. 


40 
23 
17 
12 


92 


Abstract  of  Winety-two  Accidents. 


Ascertained 
Number  of 
Lives  lost. 


Wrecked,  foundered,  or  in  imminent  peril  -    -    - 

Explosion  of  boilers 

Fires  from  various  causes 

Collisions 

Computed  number  of  persons  lost  on  board  the  Erin, 
Frolic,  and  Superb 

From  watermens'  and  coroners'  lists  in  the  Thames, 
exclusive  of  the  above,  during  the  last  three  years 

From  a  list  obtained  in  Scotland,  exclusive  of  the 
above,  being  accidents  in  the  Clyde  during  the 
last  ten  years 


308 

77 

2 

6B 


453 

120 

40 

21 


634 


The  greatest  ascertained  number  of  lives  lost  at  any  one  time  occurred  by 
the  wreck  of  the  Rothsay  Castle,  when  ....    119  persons  perished. 
The  greatest  number  at  any  one  time  from  collision       62  Do. 

The  greatest  number  at  any  one  time  from  explosion      24  Do. 

The  greatest  number  at  any  one  time  from  fire  2  Do. 

The  principal  portion  of  this  loss  of  life  has  been  occasioned  by 
vessels  having  been  built  for  sale,  and  not  sea-worthy;  an  occur- 
rence too  common,  I  am  afraid,  in  both  countries. 

The  author  of  "A  Voice  from  America"  states  the  list  of  steam- 
boat disasters.  On  the  waters  of  the  United  States,  for  twelve 
months  out  of  the  years  1837-38,  by  bursting  of  boilers,  burning, 
wrecks,  &c.,  besides  numerous  others  of  less  consequence,  com- 
prehends the  total  loss  of  eight  vessels  and  one  thousand  and  eighty 
lives. 

So  that  we  have  in  England,  >po*  ^_^  „„„„       /.q 

loss  in  ten  years    .         .    IJ^-^^ one  year,      63. 

In  America,    . one  year,  1,080 

The  report  of  Mr.  Woodbury  to  Congress  is  imperfect,  which 
is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  as  it  is  almost  impossible  to  arrive  at 
the  truth;  there  is,  however,  much  to  be  gleaned  from  it.  He 
states,  that  since  the  employment  of  steam  vessels  in  the  United 
States,  1,300  have  been  built,  and  of  them  two  hundred  and  sixty 
have  been  lost  by  accidents. 


i 


i 


The  g 
Monmou 
Oronoka 
lives  we 
hundred 

Thegi 
on  the  CO 
the  grea 
hundred 

The  t 
America, 
wreck; 
details  o 
nesses, 
serve  the 
in  Mr.  \ 
were  pres 
the  more 


"On  Sj 

Sherrod,! 

to  leave  i 

sengers. 

was  bus) 

they  all  1 

their  jour 

and  wou] 

tine  lang 

that  drew 

that  boat 

musingly 

trunks,  a 

passage 

and  certa 

"The 

narrow  ii 

called  a ' 

cotton  b< 

up  from 

reach  ab 

gers  to 

*Indiai 

♦The, 

deck  on  ( 

for  stowi 


MXmtYkTB  DIARY. 


15 


smselves. 
all  others 
nense  re- 
ft behind. 
5  security 
following 
)n  Steam 
!curred  in 


certained 
umber  of 
ives  lost. 

308 

77 

2 

66 

453 

120 

40 


21 

634 
;curred  by 
?  perished. 
)o. 
)o. 
)o. 

ioned  by 
n  occur- 

)f  steam- 
)r  twelve 
burning, 
ce,  com- 
td  eighty 


ir,      C3. 
ir,  1,080 


The  greatest  loss  of  life  by  collision  and  sinking,  was  in  the 
Monmouth,*  in  1837,  by  which  three  hundred  lives  were  lost; 
Oronoka,  by  explosion,  by  which  one  hundred  and  thirty  or  more 
lives  were  lost;  and  Moselle,  at  Cincinnati,  by  which  from  one 
hundred  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  lives  were  lost. 

The  greatest  loss  by  shipwreck  was  in  the  case  of  the  Home, 
on  the  coast  of  South  Carolina,  when  one  hundred  lives  were  lost; 
the  greatest  by  fire,  the  Ben  Sherrod,  in  1837,  by  which  one 
hundred  and  thirty  perished. 

The  three  great  casualties  which  occurred  during  my  stay  in 
America,  were  those  of  the  Ben  Sherrod,  by  fire;  the  Home,  by 
wreck;  and  the  Moselle,  by  explosion:  and  as  I  have  authentic 
details  of  them,  by  Americans  who  were  on  board,  or  eye-wit- 
nesses, 1  shall  lay  them  before  my  readers.  The  reader  will  ob- 
serve that  there  is  a  great  difference  in  the  loss  of  life  mentioned 
in  Mr.  Woodbury's  report  and  in  the  statements  of  those  who 
were  present.  I  shall  hereafter  state  why  I  consider  the  latter  as 
the  more  correct. 

LOSS  OF  THE  BEN  SHERROD, 

BY  A  PASSENGER. 

"On  Sunday  morning,  the  6th  of  May  1837,  the  steam-boat  Ben 
Sherrod,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Castleman,  was  preparing 
to  leave  the  levee  at  New  Orleans.  She  was  thronged  with  pas- 
sengers. Many  a  beautiful  and  interesting  woman  that  morning 
was  busy  in  arranging  the  little  things  incident  to  travelling,  and 
they  all  looked  forward  with  high  and  certain  hope  to  the  end  of 
their  journey.  Little  innocent  children  played  about  in  the  cabin, 
and  would  run  to  the  guards*  now  and  then,  to  wonder,  in  infan- 
tine language,  at  the  next  boat,  or  the  water,  or  something  else 
that  drew  their  attention.  "Oh,  look  here,  Henry — I  don't  like 
that  boat  Lexington." — "I  wish  I  was  going  by  her,"  said  Henry, 
musingly.  The  men  too  were  urgent  in  their  arrangements  of  the 
trunks,  and  getting  on  board  sundry  articles  which  a  ten  days' 
passage  rendered  necessary.  In  fine  all  seemed  hope,  and  joy, 
and  certainty. 

"The  cabin  of  the  Ben  Sherrod  was  on  the  upper  deck,  but 
narrow  in  proportion  to  her  build,  for  she  was  what  is  technically 
called  a  Tennessee  cotton  boat.  To  those  who  have  never  seen  a 
cotton  boat  loaded,  it  is  a  wondrous  sight.  The  bales  are  piled 
up  from  the  lower  guards  wherever  there  is  a  cranny  until  they 
reach  above  the  second  deck,  room  being  merely  left  for  passen- 
gers to  walk  outside  the  cabin.    You  have  regular  alleys  left 

•Indians  transporting  to  the  West. 

♦The  guards  of  an  American  steam-boat  are  an  extension  of  the 
deck  on  each  side,  beyond  the  paddle  boxes;  which  gives  great  width 
for  stowage. 


16 


MARRYAT'S   DIARV. 


amid  the  cotton  in  order  to  pass  about  on  the  first  deck.  Such  is 
a  cotton  boat  carrying  from  1,500  to  2,000  bales. 

"The  Ben's  finish  and  accommodation  of  the  cabin  was  by  no 
means  such  as  would  begin  to  compare  with  the  regular  passenger 
boats.  It  being  late  in  the  season,  and  but  few  large  steamers 
being  in  port  in  consequence  of  the  severity  of  the  times,  the  Ben 
Sherrod  got  an  undue  number  of  passengers,  otherwise  she  would 
have  been  avoided,  for  her  accommodations  were  not  enticing. 
She  had  a  heavy  freight  on  board,  and  several  horses  and  carriages 
on  the  forecastle.  The  build  of  the  Ben  Sherrod  was  heavy,  her 
timbers  being  of  the  largest  size. 

"The  morning  was  clear  and  sultry — so  much  so,  that  umbrellas 
were  necessary  to  ward  off  the  sun.  It  was  a  curious  sight  to  see 
the  hundreds  of  citizens  hurrying  on  board  to  leave  letters,  and  to 
see  them  coming  away.  When  a  steam-boat  is  going  off  on  the 
Southern  and  Western  waters,  the  excitement  is  fully  equal  to 
that  attendant  upon  the  departure  of  a  Liverpool  packet. — About 
ten  o'clock  a.  m.  the  ill-fated  steamer  pushed  off  upon  the  turbid 
current  of  the  Mississippi,  as  a  swan  upon  the  waters.  In  a  few 
minutes  she  was  under  way,  tossing  high  in  air,  bright  and  snowy 
clouds  of  steam  at  every  half  revolution  of  her  engine.  Talk  not 
of  your  northern  steam-boats!  A  Mississippi  steamer  of  seven 
hundred  tons  burthen,  with  adequate  machinery,  is  one  of  the 
sublimities  of  poetry.  For  thousands  of  miles  that  great  body 
forces  its  way  through  a  desolate  country,  against  an  almost  re- 
sistless current,  and  all  the  evidence  you  have  of  the  immense 
power  exerted,  is  brought  home  to  your  senses  by  the  everlasting 
and  majestic  burst  of  exertion  from  her  escapement  pipe,  and  the 
ceaseless  stroke  of  the  paddle  wheels.  In  the  dead  of  night, 
when  amid  the  swamps  on  either  side,  your  noble  vessel  winds 
her  upward  way — when  not  a  soul  is  seen  on  board  but  the  officer 
on  deck — when  nought  is  heard  but  the  clang  of  the  fire-doors 
amid  the  hoarse  coughing  of  the  engine,  imagination  yields  to  the 
vastness  of  the  ideas  thus  excited  in  your  mind,  and  if  you  have  a 
soul  that  makes  yon  a  man,  you  cannot  help  feeling  strongly  alive 
to  the  mightiness  of  art  in  contrast  with  the  mightiness  of  nature. 
Such  a  scene,  and  hundreds  such  have  I  realised,  with  an  inten- 
sity that  cannot  be  described,  always  made  me  a  better  man  than 
before.  I  never  could  tire  of  the  steam-boat  navigation  of  the 
Mississippi. 

"On  Tuesday  evening,  the  9th  of  May  1837,  the  steam-boat 
Prairie,  on  her  way  to  St.  Louis,  bore  hard  upon  the  Sherrod.  It 
was  necessary  for  the  latter  to  stop  at  Fort  Adams,  during  which 
the  Prairie  passed  her.  Great  vexation  was  manifested  by  some 
of  the  passengers,  that  the  Prairie  should  get  to  Natchez  first. 
This  subject  formed  the  theme  of  conversation  for  two  or  three 
hours,  the  captain  assuring  them  that  he  would  beat  her  any  how. 
The  Prairie  is  a  very  fast  boat,  and  under  equal  chances  could 
have  beaten  the  Sherrod.    So  soon  as  the  business  was  transacted 


Such  is 

vas  by  no 
passenger 

steamers 
I,  the  Ben 
ihe  would 

enticing, 
carriages 
eavy,  her 

jmbrellas 
Tht  to  see 
rs,  and  to 
)ff  on  the 
equal  to 
. — About 
he  turbid 
In  a  few 
id  snowy 
Talk  not 
of  seven 
ie  of  the 
eat  body 
Imost  re- 
immense 
erlasting 
,  and  the 
Df  night, 
q\  winds 
le  officer 
ire-doors 
ds  to  the 
u  have  a 
gly  alive 
■  nature, 
jn  inten- 
lan  than 
1  of  the 

am-boat 
rod.  It 
2[  which 
jy  some 
ez  first, 
or  three 
ny  how. 
3S  could 
nsacted 


UARRTAT^S    DIARY. 


17 


at  Fort  Adams,  for  which  she  stopped,  orders  were  given  to  the 
men  to  keep  up  their  fires  to  the  extent.  It  was  now  a  little  after 
11  P.M.  The  captain  retired  to  his  berth,  with  his  clothes  on,  and 
left  the  deck  in  charge  of  an  oflUcer.  During  the  evening  a  barrel 
'  of  whisky  had  been  turned  out,  and  permission  given  to  the  hands 
to  do  as  they  pleased.  As  may  be  supposed,  they  drew  upon  the 
barrel  quite  liberally.  It  is  the  custom  on  all  boats  to  furnish  the 
firemen  with  liquor,  though  a  ditference  exists  as  to  the  mode. 
But  it  is  due  to  the  many  worthy  captains  now  on  the  Mississippi, 
to  state  that  the  practice  of  furnishing  spirits  is  gradually  dying 
away,  and  where  they  are  given,  it  is  only  done  in  moderation. 

"As  the  Sherrod  passed  on  above  Fort  Adams  towards  the 
mouth  of  the  Homochitta,  the  wood  pil^d  up  in  the  front  of  the 
furnaces  several  times  caught  fire,  and  was  once  or  twice  imper- 
fectly extinguished  by  the  drunken  hands.  It  must  be  understood 
by  those  of  my  readers  who  have  never  seen  a  western  steam- 
boat, that  the  boilers  are  entirely  above  the  first  deck,  and  that 
when  the  fires  are  well  kept  up  for  any  length  of  time,  the  heat  is 
almost  insupportable.  "Were  it  not  for  the  draft  occasioned  by  the 
speed  of  the  boat  it  would  be  very  difficult  to  attend  the  fires.  As 
the  boat  was  booming  along  through  the  water  close  in-shore,  for, 
in  ascending  the  river,  boats  go  as  close  as  they  can  to  avoid  the 
current,  a  negro  on  the  beach  called  out  to  the  fireman  that  the 
wood  was  on  fire.  The  reply  was,  "Go  to  h — 1,  and  mind  your 
own  business,"  from  some  half  intoxicated  hand.  "Oh,  massa," 
answered  ths  negro,  "if  you  don't  take  care,  you  will  be  in  h — 1 
before  I  will."  On,  on,  on  went  the  boat  at  a  tremendous  rate, 
quivering  and  trembling  in  all  her  length  at  every  revolution  of 
the  wheels.  The  steam  was  created  so  fast,  that  it  continued  to 
escape  through  the  safety-valve,  and  by  its  sharp  singing,  told  a 
tale  that  every  prudent  captain  would  have  understood.  As  the 
vessel  rounded  the  bar  that  makes  off  from  the  Homochitta,  being 
compelled  to  stand  out  into  the  middle  of  the  river  in  consequence, 
the  fire  was  discovered.  It  was  about  one  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
A  passenger  had  got  up  previously,  and  was  standing  on  the  boiler 
deck,  when  to  his  astonishment,  the  fire  broke  out  from  the  pile 
of  wood.  A  little  presence  of  mind,  and  a  set  of  men  unintoxicated, 
could  have  saved  the  boat.  The  passenger  seized  a  bucket,  and 
was  about  to  plunge  it  overboard  for  water,  when  he  found  it 
locked.  An  instant  more,  and  the  fire  increased  in  volumes.  The 
captain  was  now  awaked.  He  saw  that  the  fire  had  seized  the 
deck.  He  ran  aft,  and  announced  the  ill-tidings.  No  sooner  were 
the  words  out  of  his  mouth,  than  the  shrieks  of  mothers,  sisters, 
and  babes,  resounded  through  the  hitherto  silent  cabin  in  the 
wildest  confusion.  Men  were  aroused  from  their  dreaming  cots 
to  experience  the  hot  air  of  the  approaching  fire.  The  pilot,  being 
elevated  on  the  hurricane  deck,  at  the  instant  of  perceiving  the 
flames,  put  the  head  of  the  boat  shoreward.  She  had  scarcely 
got  under  good  way  in  that  direction,  than  the  tiller  ropes  were 
8* 


■I) 


I    I 


r  \ 


18 


MARRY  AT  8  DIARY. 


r 

! 


burnt  asunder.  Two  miles  at  least,  from  the  land,  the  vessel  took 
a  sheer,  and,  borne  upon  by  the  current,  made  several  revolutions, 
until  she  struck  oil  across  the  river.  A  bar  brought  her  up  for 
the  moment. 

"The  tlames  had  now  extended  fore  and  aft.  At  the  first  alarm 
several  deck  passengers  had  got  in  the  yaul  that  hung  suspended 
by  the  davits.  A  cabin  passenger,  endowed  with  sonje  degree  of 
courage  and  presence  of  mind,  expostulated  with  them,  and  did  all 
be  could  to  save  the  boats  for  the  ladies.  'Tvvas  useless.  One 
took  out  his  knife  and  cut  away  the  forward  tackle.  The  next 
instant  and  they  were  all,  to  the  number  of  twenty  or  more,  launch- 
ed into  the  angry  waters.     They  were  seen  no  more. 

"The  boat  being  lowered  from  the  other  end.  Ailed  and  was 
useless.  Now  came  the  trying  moment.  Hundreds  leaped  from 
the  burning  wreck  into  the  waters.  Mothers  were  seen  standing 
on  the  guards  with  hair  dishevelled,  praying  for  help.  The  dear 
little  innocents  clung  to  the  side  of  their  mothers  and  with  their 
tiny  hands  beat  away  the  burning  llames.  {Sisters  calling  out  to 
their  brothers  in  uneartlily  voices — sSave  me,  oh  save  me,  brother!' 
— wives  crying  to  their  husbands  to  save  their  cinldren,  in  total 
forgetfulness  of  themselves, — every  second  or  two  a  desperate 
plunge  of  some  poor  victim  falling  on  the  appalled  ear, — the  dash- 
ing to  and  fro  of  the  horses  on  the  forecastle,  groaning  audibly 
from  pain  of  the  devouring  element — the  continued  pulling  of  the 
engine,  for  it  still  continued  to  go, — the  screaming  inotlier  who 
had  leaped  overboard  in  the  desperation  of  the  moment  with  her 
only  child, — the  flames  mounting  to  the  sky  with  the  rapidity  of 
lightning, — shall  I  ever  forget  that  scene — that  hour  of  horror  and 
alarm]  Never,  were  I  to  live  till  the  memory  should  forget  all 
else  that  ever  came  to  the  senses.  The  short  half  hour  that  sepa- 
rated and  plunged  into  eternity  two  hundred  human  beings  has 
been  so  burnt  into  the  memory  that  even  now  I  think  of  it  more 
than  half  the  day. 

"I  was  swimming  to  the  shore  with  all  my  might,  endeavoured 
to  sustain  a  mother  and  her  child.  She  sank  twice,  and  yet  I 
bore  her  on.  My  strength  failed  me.  The  babe  was  nothing — a 
mere  cork.  'Go,  go,'  said  the  brave  mother,  *save  my  child,  save 
my '  and  she  sunk  to  rise  no  more.  Nerved  by  the  resolu- 
tion of  that  woman,  I  reached  the  shore  in  safety.  The  babe  I 
saved.  Ere  I  had  reached  the  beach,  the  Sherrod  had  swung  off 
the  bar,  and  was  floating  down,  the  engine  having  ceased  running. 
In  every  direction  heads  dotted  the  surface  of  the  river.  The 
burning  wreck  now  wore  a  new,  and  still  more  awful  appearance. 
Mothers  were  seen  clinging,  with  the  last  hope  to  the  blazing 
timbers,  and  dropping  off  one  by  one.  The  screams  had  ceased. 
A  sullen  silence  rested  over  the  devoted  vessel.  The  flames  be- 
came tired  of  their  destructive  work.  ? 

"While  1  sat  dripping  and  overcome  upon  the  beach,  a  steam 
boat,  the  Columbus,  came  in  sight,  and  bore  for  the  wreck.    It 


t 


seemed 
of  that  I 
the  Stat 
"A  m 
the  cin( 
another 
come, 
tain  cor 
sank  wi 
mortal  t 
was  th 
member 
"My 
pain, 
brother, 
heart, 
babe  at 
"Aga 
sullenly 
her  svva 
efforts  0 
to  save  1 
"Cap 
argue, 
lives  of 
he  was 
bodies  o 
father  of 
it.    His 
"I  cm 
of  a  stoi 
to  excite 
occurren 
thy  had 
my  bed 
relief,  ai 
than  ev( 
"In  tl 
But  wh( 
christiai 
may  In 
"I  sb 
of  build 
been  jei 
and  rog 
Itwil 
was  occ 
the  Mis 
strange 


essel  took 
volutions^ 
ler  up  for 

Irst  alarm 
suspended 
dejrree  of 
uiddid  all 
.^ss.  One 
The  next 
e,  launch- 

and  was 
ped  from 

standing 
The  dear 
A'ilh  their 
ng  out  to 
,  brother!' 
1,  in  total 
desperate 
•thedash- 
T  audibly 
nj;  of  tiie 
itlicr  who 
with  her 
ipidity  of 
orror  and 
forget  all 
rat  sepa- 

igs  has 

it  more 


avoured 
nd  yet  I 
thing — a 
ild,save 
resolu- 
e  babe  I 
vung  off 
running, 
r.  The 
earance. 
blazing 
ceased, 
mes  be- 

a  steam 
;ck.    It 


MARRVAT  S  mARV. 


19 


seemed  like  one  last  ray  of  hope  gloaming  across  the  dead  gloom 
of  that  night.  Several  wretclif  s  were  saved.  And  still  another, 
the  Statesman,  came  in  sight.     More,  more  were  saved. 

"A  moment  to  vie  had  only  elapsed,  when  high  in  the  heavens 
the  cinders  flew,  and  the  country  was  lighted  all  round.  Still 
another  boat  came  booming  on.  1  was  happy  that  more  help  had 
come.  After  an  exchange  of  words  with  the  (.'olumbus,  the  cap- 
tain contiiuied  on  his  way  under  full  steam.  Oh,  how  my  lujart 
sank  within  me!  The  waves  created  by  his  boat  sent  many  a  poor 
mortal  to  his  long,  long  home.  A  being  by  the  name  of  Dougherty 
was  the  captain  of  that  merciless  boat. — Long  may  he  be  re- 
membered! 

"My  hands  were  burnt,  and  now  I  began  to  experience  severe 
pain.  Tiu!  scene  before  me — the  loss  of  my  two  sisters  and 
brother,  whom  1  had  missed  in  the  confusion,  all  had  steeled  my 
heart.  I  could  not  wecj) — I  could  not  sigh.  The  cries  of  the 
babe  at  my  side  were  nothing  to  me. 

"Again — another  explosion!  and  the  waters  closed  slowly  and 
sullenly  over  the  scene  of  disaster  and  death.  Darkness  resumed 
her  sway,  and  the  stillness  was  only  interrupted  by  the  distant 
efforts  of  the  Columbus  and  Statesman  in  their  laudable  exertions 
to  save  human  life. 

"Captain  Caslleman  lost,  I  believe,  a  father  and  child.  Some 
argue,  this  is  punishment  enouoh.  No,  it  is  not.  He  had  the 
lives  of  hundreds  under  his  eharjie.  lie  was  careless  of  his  trust; 
he  was  guilty  of  a  crime  that  nothing  will  ever  wipe  out.  The 
bodies  of  two  hundred  victims  are  crying  out  from  the  depth  of  the 
father  of  waters  for  vengeance.  Neither  society  nor  law  will  give 
it.     His  punishment  is  yet  to  come.     May  1  never  meet  him! 

"I  could  tell  of  scenes  of  horror  that  would  rouse  the  indignation 
of  a  stoic;  but  I  have  done.  As  to  myself,  I  could  tell  you  much 
to  excite  your  interest.  It  was  more  than  three  weeks  after  the 
occurrence  before  I  ever  shed  a  tear.  All  the  fountains  of  sympa- 
thy had  been  dried  up,  and  my  heart  was  as  stone.  As  I  lay  on 
my  bed  the  twenty-fourth  day  after,  tears,  salt  tears,  came  to  my 
relief,  and  I  felt  the  loss  of  my  sisters  and  brother  more  deeply 
than  ever.     Peace  be  to  their  spirits!  they  found  a  watery  grave. 

"In  the  course  of  all  human  events,  scenes  of  misery  will  occur. 
But  where  they  rise  from  sheer  carelessness,  it  requires  more  than 
christian  fortitude  to  forgive  the  being  who  is  in  fault.  I  repeat, 
may  I  never  meet  Captain  Castleman  or  Captain  Dougherty! 

"I  shall  follow  this  tale  of  woe  by  some  strictures  on  the  mode 
of  building  steam-boats  in  the  west,  and  show  that  human  life  has 
been  jeopardized  by  the  demoniac  spirit  of  speculation,  cheating 
and  roguery.    The  fate  of  the  Ben  Sherrod  shall  be  my  text." 

It  will  be  seen  from  this  narrative,  that  the  loss  of  the  vessel 
was  occasioned  by  racing  with  another  boat,  a  frequent  practice  on 
the  Mississippi.  That  people  should  run  such  risk,  will  appear 
strange;  but  if  any  of  my  readers  had  ever  been  on  board  of  si  steam 


f* 


1/ 1'\ 


?<' 


MARRY AT^8  DURV. 


n-; 


p 


Teasel  in  a  race,  they  would  not  be  surprised;  the  excitement  pro- 
duced by  it  is  the  most  powerful  that  can  be  conceived-- 1  have 
myself  experienced  it,  and  can  answer  for  the  truth  of  it.  At  first, 
the  feeling  of  danger  predominates,  and  many  of  the  passengers 
beff  the  captain  tu  desist:  but  he  cannot  bear  to  bo  passed  by  and 
leii  astern.  As  the  race  continues,  so  do  they  all  warm  up,  until 
even  those  who,  most  aware  of  the  danger,  were  at  first  most  afraid, 
are  to  be  seen  standing  over  the  very  boilers,  shouting,  huzzaing, 

and  stimulating  the  fireman  to blow  them  up;  the  very  danger 

gives  an  unwonted  interest  to  the  scene;  and  females,  as  well  as 
men,  would  never  be  persuaded  to  cry  out  "Hold,  enough!" 

Anotherproof  of  the  disregard  of  human  life  is  here  given  in  the 
fact  of  one  steam-boat  passing  by  and  rendering  no  assistance  to 
the  drowning  wretches;  nay,  it  was  positively  related  to  me  by 
one  who  was  in  the  water,  that  the  blows  of  the  paddles  of  this 
steam-boat  sent  down  many  who  otherwise  might  have  been  saved. 

When  I  was  on  the  Lakes,  the  wood  which  was  piled  close  to 
the  fire-place  caught  fire.  It  was  of  no  consequence,  as  it  hap- 
pened, for  it  being  a  well-regulated  boat,  the  firo  was  soon  extin- 
guished; but  1  mention  it  to  show  the  indilTerence  of  one  of  the 
men  on  board.  About  half  an  hour  afterwards,  one  of  his  com- 
panions roused  him  from  his  berth,  shaking  liim  by  the  shoulder 
to  wake  him,  saying,  "Get  up,  the  wood's  a-firc — quick."  "Well, 
I  knew  that  'fore  I  turn'd  in,"  replied  the  man,  yawning. 

The  loss  of  the  Home  occasioned  many  of  the  first  families  in 
the  states  to  go  into  deep  mourning,  for  the  major  portion  of  the  pas- 
sengers were  highly  respectable.  I  was  at  New  York  when  she 
started.  I  had  had  an  hour's  conversation  with  Professor  Nott  and 
his  amiable  wife,  and  had  made  arrangements  with  them  to  meet 
them  in  South  Carolina.  We  never  met  again,  for  they  were  in 
the  list  of  those  who  perished. 

LOSS  OF  THE  HOME. 

"The  steam-packet  Home,  commanded  by  Capt.  White,  left 
New  York,  for  Charleston,  S.  C,  at  four  o'clock,  p.  m.,  on  Satur- 
day, the  7ih  Oct.  1837,  having  on  board  between  eighty  and  nine- 
ty passengers,  and  forty-three  of  the  boat's  crew,  including  otii- 
cers,  making  in  all  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  persons.  The 
weather  at  this  time  was  very  pleasant,  and  all  on  board  appeared 
to  enjoy,  in  anticipation,  a  delightful  and  prosperous  passage.  On 
leaving  the  wharf,  cheerfulness  appeared  to  fill  the  hearts  and 
enliven  the  countenances  of  this  floating  community.  Already  had 
conjectures  been  hazarded,  as  to  the  time  of  their  arrival  at  the 
destined  port,  and  high  hopes  were  entertained  of  an  expeditious 
and  pleasant  voyage.  Before  six  o'clock,  a  check  to  these  delu- 
sive expectations  was  experienced,  by  the  boat  being  run  aground 
on  the  Romer  Shoal,  near  Sandy  Hook.  It  being  ebb  tide,  it  was 
found  impossible  to  get  off  before  the  next  flood;  consequently,  the 


fires  were  I 
flood  tide 
at  night. 
As  the  we| 

posed  that 
ibis  accidc 
no  other  n) 
side.    Th{ 
day,)  a  m\ 
were  sprc; 
rapid,  was 
noon,  whel 
At  sunset,! 
ing  the  niJ 
During  th< 
into  the  b( 
passengers 
"Vhe  sc 
caused  a  g 
appeared  i 
cers, — sup 
for  the  pre 
ed  to  those 
day, land  ^ 
posed  to  \y 
after  this 
southerly  1 
the  day,  tl 
the  boat  w 
by  a  sea,  r 
ceiling  we 
hinges,  w; 
the  day,  tl 
could  be  (] 
"It  has 
was,  durii 
called  the 
Late  in  th 
fathoms  o 
terly.     S( 
changed, 
that  the 
cause  for 
suspense; 
called  on 
mediatelj 
standing 
eluding  e 
and  gave 


MARRY  AT  8  DIARY. 


81 


fires  were  allowed  to  burn  out,  and  the  boat  remained  until  the 
flood  tide  took  her  oflf,  wbirh  was  between  ten  and  rlrven  o'clock 
at  night,  making  the  time  ot  d-  ••^ntion  about  four  or  five  hours.— 
As  the  weather  was  pj^rfcctly  culm,  it  cannot,  reasonably,  be  sup- 
posed that  the  boat  could  huve  received  "ny  material  injury  from 
this  accident;  for,  during  the  limf  that  it  reJi/  m«>(l  aground,  it  had 
no  other  motion  than  an  <  "nsional  roll  on  thu  lo  v\  from  side  to 
side.  Tlio  night  continued  pip 'sant.  The  next  morning,  (Sun- 
day,) a  moderate  breeze  prevailed  from  the  norlh-tast.  The  sails 
were  spread  beforo  the  wind,  and  tlu;  "ipeed  of  the  boat,  ilready 
rapid,  was  much  accelerated.  All  went  on  pleasantly  till  about 
noon,  when  the  wind  had  increased,  and  the  sea  lircaine  rough.— 
At  sunset,  the  wind  blew  heavily,  and  continued  to  iik n  ise  dur- 
ing the  night;  at  daylight,  on  Monday,  it  had  become  a  gale.— 
During  the  night,  much  complaint  was  made  that  the  water  came 
into  the  berths,  and  before  the  usual  time  of  rising,  some  of  the 
passengers  had  abandoned  them  on  that  account. 

"The  sea,  from  the  violence  of  the  gale,  raged  frightfully,  and 
caused  a  general  anxiety  amongst  the  passengers;  but  still,  they 
appeared  to  rely  on  the  skill  and  judgment  of  the  captain  and  ofll- 
cers, — supposing,  that  every  exertion  would  be  used,  on  their  part, 
for  the  preservation  of  so  many  valuable  lives  as  were  then  entrust- 
ed to  those  who  had  the  charge  of  this  frail  boat.  Karly  on  Mon- 
day, land  was  discovered,  nearly  ahead,  which,  by  many,  was  sup- 
posed to  be  False  Cape,  on  the  northern  part  of  Ifatteras.  Soon 
after  this  discovery,  the  course  of  the  boat  was  changed  fronni 
southerly  to  south-easterly,  which  was  the  general  course  through 
the  day,  though  with  some  occasional  changes.  The  condition  of 
the  boat  was  now  truly  alarming;  it  bent  and  twisted,  when  struck 
by  a  sea,  as  if  the  next  would  rend  it  asunder:  the  panels  of  the 
ceiling  were  falling  from  their  places;  and  the  hull,  as  if  united  by 
hinges,  was  bending  against  the  feet  of  the  braces.  'J'hroughout 
the  day,  the  rolling  and  pitching  were  so  great,  that  no  cooking 
could  be  done  on  board. 

"It  has  already  been  stated,  that  the  general  course  of  the  boat 
was,  during  the  day,  south-easterly,  and  consequently  in  what  is 
called  the  trough  of  the  sea, — as  the  wind  was  from  the  north-east. 
Late  in  the  afternoon,  the  boat  was  reported  to  be  in  twenty-three 
fathoms  of  water,  when  the  course  was  changed  to  a  south-wes- 
terly. Soon  after  this,  it  was  observed  that  the  course  was  again 
changed,  to  north-westerly;  when  the  awful  truth  burst  upon  us, 
that  the  boat  must  be  filling;  for  we  could  imagine  no  other 
cause  for  this  sudden  change.  This  was  but  a  momentary 
suspense;  for  within  a  few  minutes,  all  the  passengers  were 
called  on  to  bale,  in  order  to  prevent  the  boat  from  sinking.  Im- 
mediately, all  were  employed,  but  with  little  effect;  for,  notwith- 
standing the  greatest  exertion  on  the  part  of  the  passengers,  in- 
cluding even  many  of  the  ladies,  the  water  was  rapidly  increasing, 
and  gave  most  conclusive  evidence,  that,  unless  we  reached  the 


■    f 


''",  I. 


■  il 


If   ' 


n 


yi 


W  MABRYAT'S  DIARIT. 

shore  within  a  few  hours,  the  boat  must  sink  at  sea*  and  probably 
not  a  soul  be  left  to  communicate  the  heart-rending  intelligence  to 
bereaved  and  disconsolate  friends.  Soon  after  the  boat  was  headed 
towardis  the  land,  the  water  had  increased  so  much,  as  to  reach 
the  fire  under  the  boilers,  which  was  soon  extinguished.  Gloomy 
indeed  was  the  prospect  before  us.  With  one  hundred  and  thirty 
persons  in  a  sinking  boat,  far  out  at  sea,  in  a  dark  and  tempestuous 
night,  with  no  other  dependence  for  reaching  the  shore  than  a  few 
small  and  tattered  sails,  our  condition  might  be  considered  truly 
awful.  But,  with  all  these  disheartening  circumstances,  hope, 
delusive  hope,  still  supported  us.  Although  it  was  evident  that 
we  must  soon  sink,  and  our  progress  towards  the  land  was  very 
slow,  still  we  cherished  the  expectation  that  the  boat  would  finally 
be  run  on  shore,  and  thus  most  of  us  be  delivered  from  a  watery 
grave.  Early  in  the  afternoon,  the  ladies  had  been  provided  with 
strips  of  blankets,  that  they  might  be  lashed  to  such  parts  of  the 
boat  as  would  afford  the  greatest  probability  of  safety. 

"In  this  condition,  and  with  these  expectations,  we  gradually, 
but  with  a  motion  nearly  imperceptible,  approached,  what  to  many 
of  us  was  an  untried,  and  almost  an  unknown  shore.  At  about  eleven 
o'clock,  those  who  had  been  employed  in  baleing  were  compelled 
to  leave  the  cabin,  as  the  boat  had  sunk  until  the  deck  was  nearly 
level  with  the  water,  and  it  appeared  too  probable  that  all  would 
soon  be  swallowed  up  by  the  foaming  waves.  The  heaving  of  the 
lead  indicated  an  approach  to  the  shore.  Soon  was  the  cheering 
intelligence  of  'Land!  land!'  announced  by  those  on  the  look-out. 
This,  for  a  mowi.i,  aroused  the  sinking  energies  of  all,  when  a 
general  bustle  ensued,  in  the  hasty,  but  trifling,  preparations  that 
could  be  made  for  safety,  as  soon  as  the  boat  should  strike.  But 
what  were  the  feelings  of  an  anxious  multitude,  when,  instead  of 
land,  a  range  of  angry  breakers  were  visible  just  ahead;  and  land, 
if  it  could  be  seen  at  all,  was  but  half  perceptible  in  the  distance 
far  beyond. 

"As  every  particular  is  a  matter  of  interest, — especially  to  those 
who  had  friends  and  relatives  on  board, — it  may  not  be  improper 
to  state,  that  one  individual  urged  the  propriety  of  lowering  the 
email  boats,  and  putting  the  ladies  and  children  into  them  for  safety, 
with  suitable  persons  to  manage  them,  before  we  struck  the  break- 
ers. By  this  arrangement,  had  it  been  effected,  it  is  believed  that 
the  boats  might  have  rode  out  the  gale  during  the  night,  and  have 
been  rescued  in  the  morning  by  passing  vessels,,  and  thus  all,  or 
nearly  all,  have  been  saved.  But  few  supported  this  proposition, 
and  it  could  not  be  done  without  the  prompt  interference  of  those 
who  had  authority  to  command,  and  who  would  be  obeyed. 

"Immediately  before  we  struck,  one  or  two  passengers,  by  the 
aid  of  some  of  the  spr.nen,  attempted  to  seek  safety  in  one  of  the 
boats  at  the  quarter,  v  hen  a  breaker  struck  it,  swept  it  from  the 
davits,  and  carried  with  it  a  seaman,  who  was  instantly  lost.  A 
similar  attempt  was  mad<?  to  launch  the  long-boat  from  the  upper 
deck,  by  the  chief  mate  Mr.  Mathews,  and  others.    It  was  filled 


with  se 
alread] 
of  the 

"Noi 
ing  to 
without 
awaitif 
life  or 
time,  hj 
there  a| 
slight 
Some  fd 
a  place! 
the  mell 
calm  ot 

"The 
bar  of 
death  s 
work  0 
crash,  s 
the  dee 
wards 
Anothei 


'li' 


•'!  t 


MARRTAT'S  DIARY. 


23 


and  probably 
itelligence  to 
i  was  headed 
as  to  reach 
ed.  Gloomy 
3d  and  thirty 
tennpestuous 
e  than  a  few 
lidered  truly 
mces,  hope, 
evident  that 
nd  was  very 
^ould  finally 
>m  a  watery 
•ovided  with 
parts  of  the 

6  gradually, 
irhat  to  many 
about  eleven 
e  compelled 
:  was  nearly 
at  all  would 
laving  of  the 
[he  cheering 
ie  look-out. 
all,  when  a 
rations  that 
trike.  But 
I,  instead  of 
i;  and  land, 
he  distance 

illy  to  those 
le  improper 
wering  the 
I  for  safety, 
:  the  break- 
slieved  that 

and  have 
hus  all,  or 
roposition, 
e  of  those 
yed. 

3rs,  by  the 
one  of  the 

from  the 

r  lost.     A 

the  upper 
was  filled 


with  several  passengers,  and  some  of  the  crew;  but,  as  we  were 
already  within  the  verge  of  the  breakers,  this  boat  shared  the  fate 
of  the  other,  and  all  on  board  (about  ten  in  number)  perished. 

"Now  commenced  tb  j  most  heart-rending  scene  Wives  cling- 
ing to  husbands,— children  to  parents, — and  women  who  were 
without  protectors,  seeking  aid  from  the  arm  of  the  stranger;  all 
awaiting  the  results  of  a  moment,  which  would  bring  with  it  either 
life  or  death.  Though  an  intense  feeling  of  anxiety  must,  at  this 
time,  have  filled  every  breast,  yet  not  a  shriek  was  heard,  nor  was 
there  any  extraordinary  exclamation  of  excitement  or  alarm.  A 
slight  agitation  was,  however,  apparent  in  the  general  circle. 
Some  few  hurried  from  one  part  of  the  boat  to  another,  as  if  seeking 
a  place  of  greater  safety;  yet  most,  and  particularly  those  who  had 
the  melancholy  charge  of  wives  and  children,  remained  quiet  and 
calm  observers  of  the  scene  before  them. 

"The  boat,  at  length,  strikes, — it  stops, — as  motionless  as  a 
bar  of  lead.  A  momentary  pause  follows, — as  if  the  angel  of 
death  shrunk  from  so  dreadful  a  work  of  slaughter.  But  soon  the 
work  of  destruction  commenced.  A  breaker  with  a  deafening 
crash,  swept  over  the  boat,  carrying  its  unfortunate  victims  into 
the  deep.  Al  the  same  time,  a  simultaneous  rush  was  made  to- 
wards the  bows  of  the  boat.  The  forward  deck  was  covered. 
Another  breaker  came,  with  irresistible  force, — and  all  within  its 
sweep  disappeared.  Our  numbers  were  now  frightfully  reduced. 
The  roaring  of  the  waters,  together  with  the  dreadful  crash  of 
breaking  timbers,  surpasses  the  power  of  description.  Some  of 
the  remaining  passengers  sought  shelter  from  the  encroaching  dan- 
gers, by  retreating  to  the  passage,  on  the  lee  side  of  the  boat,  that 
leads  from  the  after  to  the  forward  deck,  as  if  to  be  as  far  as  pos- 
sible from  the  grasp  of  death.  It  may  not  be  improper  here  to  re- 
mark, that  the  destruction  of  the  boat,  and  loss  of  life,  was,  doubt- 
less, much  more  rapid  than  it  otherwise  would  have  been,  from 
the  circumstauce  of  the  boat  heeling  to  windward,  and  the  deck, 
which  was  nearly  level  with  the  water,  forming,  in  consequence, 
an  inclined  plane,  upon  which  the  waves  broke  with  their  full 
force. 

"A  large  proportion  of  those  who  rushed  into  this  passage,  were 
ladies  and  children,  with  a  few  gentlemen  who  had  charge  of 
them.  The  crov/d  was  so  dense,  that  many  were  in  danger  of 
being  crushed  by  the  irresistible  pressure.  Here  were  perhaps 
some  of  the  most  painful  sights  ever  beheld.  Before  introducing 
any  of  the  closing  scenes  of  individuals,  which  the  writer  witness- 
ed, or  which  he  has  gathered  from  his  fellow  passengers,  he  would 
beg  to  be  understood,  that  it  is  not  for  the  gratification  of  the  idle 
curiosity  of  the  careless  and  indifferent  reader,  or  to  pierce  afresh 
the  bleeding  wounds  of  surviving  friends,  but  to  furnish  such 
facts  as  may  be  interesting,  and  which,  perhaps,  might  never  be' 
obtained  through  any  other  channel. 

"As  the  immediate  connections  of  the  writer  are  already  inform- 
ed of  the  particulars  relating  to  his  own  unhappy  bereavement, 


fi 


.1 


I 


i        I 


34 


MARRY AT*S  DIARY. 


1': 


1' 


there  is  no  necessity  for  entering  in  a  minute  detiiil  of  this  melan- 
choly event. 

"This  passage  contained  perhaps  thirty  or  more  persons,  con- 
sisting of  men,  women  and  children,  with  no  apparent  possibility 
of  escape;  enclosed  within  a  narrow  aperture,  over  which  was  the 
deck,  and  both  ends  of  which  were  completely  closed  by  the  frag- 
ments of  the  boat  and  the  rushing  of  the  waves.  While  thus  shut 
up,  death  appeared  inevitable.  Already  were  both  decks  swept  of 
every  thing  tbat  was  on  them.  The  dining  cabin  was  entirely 
gone,  and  every  thing  belonging  to  the  quarter-deck  was  com- 
pletely stripped  off,  leaving  not  even  a  stanchion  or  particle  of  the 
bulwarks;  and  all  this  was  the  work  of  about  five  minutes. 

"The  starboard  wheel-house,  and  every  thing  about  it,  was  soon 
entirely  demolished.  As  much  of  the  ceiling  forward  of  the  star- 
board wheel  had,  during  the  day,  fallen  from  its  place,  the  waves 
soon  found  their  way  through  all  that  remained  to  oppose  them, 
and  were  in  a  few  minutes'  time  forcing  into  the  last  retreat  of 
those  who  had  taken  shelter  in  the  passage  already  mentioned. 

"Every  wave  made  a  frightful  encroachment  on  our  narrow 
limits,  and  seemed  to  threaten  us  with  immediate  death.  Hope- 
less as  was  the  condition  of  those  thus  hemmed  in,  yet  not  a  shriek 
was  heard  from  them.  One  lady,  unknown  to  the  writer,  begged 
earnestly  for  some  one  to  save  her.  In  a  time  of  such  alarm,  it  is 
not  strange  that  a  helpless  female  should  plead  with  earnestness 
for  assistance  from  those  who  were  about  her,  or  even  offer  them 
money  for  that  aid  which  the  least  reflection  would  have  convinced 
her  it  was  not  possible  to  render.  Another  scene,  witnessed  at 
this  trying  hour,  was  still  more  painful.  A  little  boy  was  plead- 
ing with  his  father  to  save  him.  'Father,'  said  the  boy,  'you  will 
save  me,  won't  youl  you  can  swim  ashore  with  me,  can't  you, 
father?'  But  the  unhappy  father  was  too  deeply  absorbed  in  the 
other  charges  that  leant  on  him,  even  to  notice  the  imploring  ac- 
cents of  his  helpless  child.  For  at  that  time,  as  near  as  the  wri- 
ter can  judge,  from  the  darkness  of  the  place  they  were  in,  his 
wife  hung  upon  one  arm,  and  his  daughter  of  seventeen  upon  the 
other.  He  had  one  daughter  besides,  near  the  age  of  this  little 
boy,  but  whether  she  was  at  that  time  living  or  not,  is  uncertain. 

"After  remaining  here  some  minutes,  the  deck  overhead  was 
split  open  by  the  violence  of  the  waves,  which  allowed  the  writer 
an  opportunity  of  climbing  out.  This  he  instantly  did,  and 
assisted  his  wife  through  the  same  opening.  As  he  had  aow  left 
those  below,  he  is  unable  to  say  how  they  were  finally  lost;  but, 
as  that  part  of  the  boat  was  very  soon  completely  destroyed,  their 
further  sufferings  could  not  have  been  much  prolonged.  We  were 
now  in  a  situation  which,  from  the  time  the  boat  struck,  we  had 
considered  as  the  most  safe,  and  had  endeavoured  to  attain. 
Here  we  resolved  to  await  our  uncertain  fate.  From  this  place 
we  could  see  the  encroachment  of  the  devouring  waves,  every 
one  of  which  reduced  our  thinned  numbers,  and  swept  with 
it  parts  of  our  crumbling  boat.  For  several  hours  previous, 
the  gale  had  been  sensibly  abating;  and,  for  a  moment,  the  pale 


moon  br( 
of  terroi 
tims  the 
many  w 
moon  y( 
the  stert 
tlie  dock 
liis  form 
to  reach 
him, — ar 
heads  of 
appearet 
violence 
They  su 

"Duri 
ring  the 
ed,  indee 
before,  p 
in  this  s 
prepared 
the  appc 
abaft  the 
the  deck 
perilous  i 
have  fall( 
who  had 
to  raise  h 
and,  with 
to  a  larg( 
maining 
(Mrs,  Sh 
the  two 
lady  the 
pi(?ce  of 
was  alm( 
wiiich  ini 
water, 
to  cling  1 
washed  1 
he  came 
seemed  \ 
an  exhai 
boat,  the 
Shrocdei 
bia ;  and 

"On  I 
but  after 
proved  l( 
of  the  ph 
island,  g 


this  melan* 

arsons,  con- 
possibility 
ich  was  the 
by  thefrag- 
le  thus  shut 
ks  swept  of 
as  entirely 
was  com- 
ticle  of  the 
[tes. 

t,  was  soon 
of  the  star- 
the  waves 
pose  them, 
I  retreat  of 
ntioned. 
»ur  narrow 
h.     Hope- 
ot  a  shriek 
er,  begged 
ilarm,  it  is 
arnestness 
offer  them 
convinced 
tnessed  at 
^as  plead- 
'you  will 
can't  you, 
)ed  in  the 
oring  ac- 
the  wri- 
re  in,  his 
upon  the 
this  little 
incertain. 
lead  was 
he  writer 
did,  and 
aow  left 
oat;  but, 
red,  their 
We  were 
,  we  had 
0  attain, 
lis  place 
s,  every 
;pt  with 
trevious, 
the  pale 


marryat's  diary. 


25 


! 


moon  broke  through  the  dispersing  clouds,  as  if  to  witness  this  scene 
of  terror  and  destruction,  and  to  show  to  the  horror-stricken  vic- 
tims the  fate  that  awaited  them.  How  few  were  now  left,  of  the 
many  who,  but  a  little  before,  inhabited  our  bark !  While  the 
moon  yet  shone,  three  men  were  seen  to  rush  from  the  middle  to 
the  stern  of  the  boat.  A  wave  came  rushing  on.  It  passed  over 
the  deck.  One  only,  of  the  three,  was  left.  He  attempted  to  gain 
his  former  position.  Another  wave  came.  He  had  barely  timo 
to  reach  a  large  timber,  to  which  he  clung,  when  this  wave  struck 
him, — and  he  too  was  missing.  As  the  wave  passed  away,  tho 
heads  of  two  of  these  men  were  seen  above  the  water;  but  they 
appeared  to  make  no  effort  to  swim.  The  probability  is,  tiiat  tho 
violence  with  which  they  were  hurled  into  the  sea  disabled  them. 
They  sunk  to  rise  no  more. 

"During  this  time,  Mr.  Lovegreen,  of  Charleston,  continued  to 
ring  the  boat's  bell,  which  added  if  possible  to  the  glootn.  It  sound- 
ed, indeed,  like  the  funeral  knell  over  the  departed  drad.  Never 
before,  perhaps,  was  a  bell  tolled  at  such  a  funeral  as  this.  While 
in  this  situation,  and  reflecting  on  the  necessity  of  being  alvvay? 
prepared  for  the  realities  of  eternity',  our  attention  was  arrested  by 
the  appearance  of  a  lady,  climbing  upon  the  outside  of  the  boat, 
abaft  the  wheel  near  where  we  were.  Her  head  was  barely  above 
the  deck  on  which  we  stood,  and  she  was  holding  to  it,  in  a  most 
perilous  manner.  She  implored  help,  without  which  she  inust  soon 
have  fallen  into  the  deep  beneath,  and  shared  the  fate  of  llio  many 
who  had  already  gone.  Tho  wr'.t(>r  ran  to  her  aid,  hut  wfis  uiinblo 
to  raise  her  to  the  deck.  Mr.  VVoodburn,  of  New  York,  now  came, 
and,  with  his  assistance,  the  lady  was  rescued;  sho  was  then  lashed 
to  a  large  piece  of  timber,  by  the  side  of  another  lady,  tho  only  re- 
maining place  that  afforded  any  prospect  of  saft.'ty.  Tho  former  lady 
(Mrs.  Shroeder)  was  washed  ashore  on  this  piece  of  wreck,  one  of 
the  two  who  survived.  The  writer  having  rclinquislied  to  this 
lady  the  place  he  had  occupied,  was  cofnpelled  to  net  upon  a  largo 
pi(>co  of  the  boat,  that  lay  near,  under  the  lee  of  the  wheel;  this 
was  almost  immediately  driven  from  its  place  into  the  breakers, 
which  instantly  swept  him  from  it,  and  plunged  him  deep  into  the 
water.  With  some  difficulty  he  regained  his  raft,  llo  continued 
to  cling  to  this  fragment,  as  well  as  he  could,  but  was  repeatedly 
washed  from  it.  Sometimes  when  plunged  deep  into  the  water, 
he  came  up  under  it.  After  encountering  all  the  difficulties  that 
seemed  possible  to  be  borne,  he  was  at  length  thrown  on  shore,  in 
an  exhausted  state.  At  the  time  the  writer  was  drivee  from  the 
boat,  there  were  but  few  left.  Of  these,  four  survived,  liz.  Mrs. 
Shroeder  and  Mr.  Lovegreen,  of  Charleston;  Mr.  Cohen,  of  Colum- 
bia ;  and  Mr.  Vanderzee,  of  New  York. 

"  On  reaching  the  beach,  there  was  no  appearance  of  inhabitants; 
but  after  wandering  some  distance,  a  light  was  discovered,  which 
proved  to  be  from  Ocracoke  lighthouse,  about  six  miles  south-west 
of  the  place  where  the  boat  was  wrecked.  The  inhabitants  of  tho 
island,  generally,  treated  us  with  great  kindness,  and,  so  far  a& 
3 


( r 


n 


!    ' 


Hi    ,M 


f\      '■ 


I  ilu  r 


gr  ■' 


iii; 


li- 


Hi   '! 


86 


HARRYAT'S  DIARY. 


their  circumstances,  would  allow,  assisted  in  properly  disposing 
the  numerous  bodies  thrown  upon  the  shore. 

"  The  survivors,  after  remaining  on  the  island  till  Thursday  af^ 
ternoon,  separated,  some  returning  to  New  York,  others  proceeding 
on  to  Charleston.  Acknowledgment  is  due  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Washington,  Newborn,  and  Wilmington,  as  well  as  of  other  places 
through  which  we  passed,  for  the  kind  hospitality  we  received,  and 
the  generous  offers  made  to  us.  Long  will  these  favours  bo  grate- 
fully remembered  by  the  survivors  of  the  unfortunate  Home." 

Even  if  the  captain  of  the  Home  was  intoxicated,  it  is  certain  that 
the  loss  of  the  vepsol  was  not  occasioned  by  that  circumstance,  but 
by  the  vessel  not  having  been  built  sea-v/orthy. 

The  narrative  of  the  loss  of  the  Moselle  is  the  last  which  I  shall 
give  to  the  reader.  It  is  written  by  Judge  Ilall,  one  of  tlie  best  of 
tiie  American  writers. 

LOSS  OF  TIIE  MOSELLE. 

"The  recent  explosion  of  tlie  steam-boat  Moselle,  at  Cincinnati, 
affords  a  most  awful  illustration  of  t'.ie  danger  of  steam  navigation, 
when  conducted  by  ignorant  or  carclei-:r>iiien:  and  fully  sustains  the 
remark  made  in  the  precodinir  paijes,  that,  'the  accidents  arc  al- 
iuost  wholly  confined  to  insiifacient  or  hi;l!y  managed  boats.' 

"  The  Moselle  wa:^  a  new  boat,  intended  to  ply  regularly  between 
Cincinnati  and  St.  Lonis.  Slie  had  inado  but  two  or  three  trips, 
lint  had  already  established  a  hi:',h  rc^pntalion  for  speed;  and,  as  is 
usual  in  sucli  cases,  tlio^c  by  whom  she  was  owned  and  command- 
<!d,  became  ambitions  to  have  her  rated  asa  'crack  boat,'  and  ppared 
no  pains  to  exalt  fior  c  li:>racter.  'J'lie  newspapers  noticed  the 
i/nick  trips  of  the  l^iosel'e,  and  jmspongers  chose  to  embark  in  this 
boat  in  preference  to  otiior.^-.  Iter  capiain  was  an  enterprising 
yonng  man,  without  much  e.\perience,  bent  upon  gaining  tor  his 
lioat,  at  all  liazards,  the  distinction  of  being  tiio  fasle.-^t  upon  the 
river,  and  not  I'ully  aware,  porha])s,  of  the  inevitable  danger  which 
attended  this  rash  experiment. 

"  On  Wednesday  the  2.jtli  of  April,  between  four  and  five  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  this  shocking  catastrophe  occurred.  Tlie  boat 
was  crowded  with  passengers;  and,  as  is  usually  the  case  on  our 
western  rivers,  in  regard  to  ves^sels  passing  westerly,  the  largest 
proportion  were  emigrants.  They  were  mostly  deck  passengers, 
many  of  whom  were  poor  Germans,  ignorant  of  any  language  but 
Iheir  own,  and  the  larger  portion  consisted  of  families,  comprising 
])ersons  of  all  ages.  Although  not  a  large  boat,  there  were  eighty- 
live  passengers  in  the  cabin,  which  was  a  much  larger  number  than 
could  be  comfortably  accommodated ;  the  number  of  deck  passen- 
gers is  not  exactly  known,  but,  as  is  estimated,  at  between  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  and  one  hundred  and  fifty,  and  the  officers  and  crew 
umounted  to  thirty,  making  in  all  about  two  hundred  and  sixty  souls. 

"  It  was  a  pleasant  afternoon,  and  the  boat,  with  steam  raised, 
delayed  at  the  wharf,  to  increase  the  number — already  too  great — 


of  her  pa 
nies,  ail 
passage 
tions — tl 
of  his  r 
seeking 
indigent 
in  purse 
tier. 

*'On  1 
to  take 
chore  foi 
course  d( 
a  suburb 
stopped 
the  pecu 
usual  he 
Mosel  le- 
thal the 
wliich  hi 
eclat  to 
"The 
the  shore 
forepart 
were  un 
particula 
spectator 
past  the 
was  unpi 
of  a  mir 
eimultan 
human   1 
Fragmer 
to  the  K 
latter,  s( 
quarter 
found  dr 
with  sue 
roof  of  £ 
Of  then 
before,  i 
water, 
by  the  e 
saw  eixt 
reached 
"The 
city,  the 
prompt! 
as  were 
had  pen 
"Th( 
hood  of 


JttARHYAT  S  PIARV, 


27 


disposing 

Thursday  af^ 
rs  proceeding- 
nhabitants  of 
f  other  places 
received,  and 
iirs  ha  irrate- 

IJOME." 

s  certain  that 
imstance,  but 

which  I  shall 
jf  the  best  of 


Lt  Cincinnati; 
n  naviijation, 
/  sustains  the 
dnnts  arc  al- 
boats.' 

'iY]y  between 
r  tliree  trips, 
d;  and,  as  is 
lil  command- 
,'  and  ppared 
noticed  the 
nhark  in  this 
entcrprisini: 
:ninnf  tor  his 
!r^t  npon  the 
ani,rcr  which 

Jfiveo'cloci; 
The  boar 
case  on  our 
,  the  largest 
passengers^ 
nguagc  but 
comprising 
.vere  eighty- 
number  than 
lock  passen- 
len  one  hun- 
rs  and  crew 
I  sixty  souls. 
;eam  raised, 
too  great-— 


■;l 


of  her  passengers,  who  continued  to  crowd  in,  singly  or  in  compa- 
nies, all  anxious  to  hurry  onwards  in  the  first  boat,  or  eager  to  take 
passage  in  the  fust-running  Moselle.  They  were  of  all  condi- 
tions— the  military  officer  hastening  to  Florida  to  take  command  of 
of  his  regiment — the  merchant  bound  to  St.  Louis — the  youth 
seeking  a  field  on  which  to  commence  the  career  of  life — and  the 
indigent  emigrant  with  his  wife  and  children,  already  exhausted 
in  purse  and  spirits,  but  still  pushing  onward  to  the  distant  fron- 
tier. 

"On  leaving  the  wharf,  the  boat  ran  up  the  river  about  a  mile, 
to  take  in  some  families  and  freight,  and  having  touched  at  tue 
chore  for  that  purpose,  for  a  few  minutes,  was  about  to  lay  her 
course  down  the  river.  The  spot  at  which  she  thus  landed  was  at 
a  suburb  of  the  city,  called  Fulton,  and  a  number  of  persons  had 
Flopped  to  witness  her  departure,  several  of  whom  remarked,  from 
the  peculiar  sound  of  the  steam,  that  it  had  been  raised  to  an  un- 
usual height.  The  crowd  thus  attracted — the  high  repute  of  the 
Moselle — and  certain  vague  rumours  which  began  to  circulate, 
that  the  captain  had  determined,  at  every  risk,  to  beat  another  boat 
which  had  just  departed — all  these  circumstances  gave  an  unusual 
tclat  to  the  departure  of  this  ill-fated  vessel. 

"The  landing  completed,  the  bow  of  the  boat  was  shoved  from 
the  shore,  whiin  an  explosion  took  place,  by  which  the  whole  of  the 
forepart  of  the  vessel  was  literally  blown  up.  The  passengers 
were  unhappily  in  the  most  exposed  positions — on  the  deck,  and 
particularly  on  the  forward  part,  sharing  the  excitement  of  the 
spectators  on  shore,  and  anticipating  the  pleasure  of  darting  rapidly 
past  the  city  in  the  swift  Moselle.  The  power  of  the  explosion 
was  unprecedented  in  the  history  of  steam;  its  effect  was  like  that 
of  a  mine  of  gunpowder.  All  the  boilers,  four  in  number,  were 
simultaneously  burst;  the  deck  was  blown  into  the  air,  and  the 
human  beings  who  crowded  it  hurried  into  instant  destruction. 
Fragments  of  the  boilers,  and  of  human  bodies,  were  thrown  both 
to  the  Kentucky  and  the  Ohio  shore;  and  as  the  boat  lay  near  the 
latter,  some  of  these  helpless  victims  must  have  been  thrown  a 
quarter  of  a  mile.  The  body  of  Captain  Perry,  the  master,  was 
found  dreadfully  mangled,  on  the  nearest  shore.  A  man  was  hurled 
with  such  force,  that  his  head,  with  half  his  body,  penetrated  the 
roof  of  a  house,  distant  more  than  a  hundred  yards  from  the  boat. 
Of  the  number  who  had  crowded  this  beautifurboat,  a  few  minutes 
before,  nearly  all  were  hurled  into  the  air,  or  plunged  into  the 
water.  A  few,  in  the  after  part  of  the  vessel,  who  were  uninjured 
by  the  explosion,  jumped  overboard.  An  eye-witness  says  that  he 
saw  sixty  or  seventy  in  the  water  at  one  time,  of  whom  not  a  dozen 
reached  the  shore.  hro 

"  The  news  of  this  awful  catastrophe  spread  rapidly  t  ugh  the 
city,  thousands  rushed  to  the  spot,  and  the  most  benevolent  aid  was 
promptly  extended  to  the  sufferers — to  such,  we  should  rather  say, 
as  were  within  the  reach  of  human  assistance — for  the  majority 
had  perished. 

"  The  writer  was  among  those  who  hastened  to  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  wreck,  and  witnessed  a  scene  so  sad  that  no  languagQ 


M. 


■'< 


I 


ii 


I 


m 


28 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


can  dopict  it  with  fidelity.  On  the  shore  lay  twenty  or  thirty 
inangled  and  still  bleeding  corpses,  while  others  were  in  the  act  of 
beinsr  drafrfrod  from  the  wreck  or  the  water.  There  were  men 
carrying:  away  the  woundod,  and  others  gathering  the  trunks,  and 
articles  of  wearing  apparel,  that  strewed  the  beach. 

"  The  survivors  of  this  awful  tragedy  presented  the  most  touch- 
ing objects  of  distress.  Death  had  torn  asunder  the  most  tender 
lies;  but  the  rupture  had  been  so  sudden  and  violent,  that  as  yet 
none  knew  c  rtainly  who  had  been  taken,  nor  who  had  been 
spared.  Fathers  wore  inquiring  for  children,  children  for  parents, 
husbands  and  wives  for  each  other.  One  man  had  saved  a  son,  but 
lost  a  wife  and  five  chiltir  mi.  A  father,  partially  deranged,  lay 
with  a  wounded  child  on  one  side,  a  dead  daughter  on  the  other, 
and  his  wife,  wounded,  at  his  feet.  One  gentleman  sought  his 
wife  and  children,  who  were  as  eagerly  seeking  him  in  the  same 
crowd — they  met,  and  were  re-united. 

"  A  female  deck  passenger,  that  had  been  saved,  seemed  incon- 
solable for  the  loss  of  her  relations.  To  every  question  put  to  her, 
she  would  exclaim,  '  Oh  my  father  !  my  mother!  my  sisters!'  A 
little  boy,  about  four  or  five  years  of  age,  whose  head  was  much 
bruised,  appeared  lo  be  regardless  of  his  wounds,  but  cried  continu- 
ally for  a  lost  father;  while  another  lad, a  little  older,  was  weeping 
for  his  whole  family. 

"One  venerable  looking  man  wept  a  wife  and  five  children; 
another  was  bereft  of  nine  members  of  his  family.  A  touching  dis- 
play of  maternal  afl^ection  was  evinced  by  a  lady  who,  on  being 
brought  to  the  shore,  clasped  her  hands  and  exclaimed,  'Thank 
God,  I  am  safe !'  but  instantly  recollecting  herself,  ejaculated  in  a 
voice  of  piercing  agony,  '  where  is  njy  child  I'  The  infant,  which 
had  been  saved,  was  brought  to  her,  and  she  fainted  at  the  sight 
of  it. 

*' A  public  meeting  was  called  in  Cincinnati,  at  which  the  mayor 
presided,  when  the  facts  of  this  melancholy  occurrence  were  dis- 
cussed, and  among  other  resolutions  passed,  was  one  deprecating 
'  the  great  and  increasing  carelessness  in  the  navigation  of  steam 
vessels,'  and  urging  this  subject  upon  the  consideration  of  Congress. 
No  one  denied  that  this  sad  event,  which  had  filled  our  city  with 
consternation,  sympathy,  and  sorrow,  was  the  result  of  a  reckless 
and  criminal  inattention  to  their  duty,  on  the  part  of  those  having 
the  care  of  the  Moselle,  nor  did  any  one  attempt  to  palliuiie  their 
conduct.  Committees  were  appointed  to  seek  out  the  sufferers,  and 
perform  the  various  duties  which  humanity  dictated.  Through  the 
exertions  of  the  gentlemen  appointed  on  this  occasion,  lists  were 
obtained  and  published,  showing  the  names  of  the  passengers  as  far 
as  could  be  obtained,  and  giving  the  following  result: — 

Killed Si    • 

Badly  wounded 13 

Missing 55 

Saved  .  . 117 


"I 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


29 


r  or  thirty 
I  the  act  of 
were  men 
ruiiks,  and 

K)3t  tonch- 
u)st  tender 
that  as  yet 

had  been 
ir  parents, 

a  son,  but 
mofed,  lay 
the  other, 
ioujrht  his 

the  same 

ned  incon- 
put  to  her, 
sters!'  A 
was  much 
d  coritinu- 
s  weeping 

children ; 
ching  dis- 
on  being- 
'Thank 
lated  in  a 
nt,  which 
the  sight 

he  mayor 
were  dia- 
precating 
of  steam 
Congress, 
city  with 
I  reckless 
se  having 
Idle  their 
jrers,  and 
■ough  the 
ists  were 
ers  asfar 


"As  many  strangers  entered  the  boat  but  a  few  minutes  before 
hs  departure,  whoso  names  were  not  registered,  it  is  probable  that 
the  whole  number  of  souls  on  board  was  not  less  than  two  hundred 
find  c'ishty.  Of  the  missing,  many  dead  bodies  have  since  been 
found,  but  very  few  have  boon  added  to  the  list  o^ saved.  The  ac- 
tual number  nf  lives  lost,  therefore,  docs  not  vary  much  from  one 
hundred  undfiftyy 

The  fallowing  observations  are  made  in  the  Report  of  the  Com- 
miltee,  relative  to  the  tremendous  force  of  the  steam : 

"Of  the  inmiense  fcjrce  exerted  in  this  explosion,  there  is  abun- 
dant evidence;  still  in  this  extraordinary  occurrence  in  the  iiistory 
of  steam,  I  deem  it  important  to  be  particular  in  noting  the  facts, 
JuiJ  fur  that  purpo-se  I  Jiave  m:ule  some  measurements  and  calcula- 
tions. The  boat  was  one  hundred  and  sixteen  feet  ti'onj  the  waters 
edge,  one  hundred  and  ninety-two  from  the  top  of  the  bank,  which 
was  forty-three  feet  in  perpendicular  height  above  the  water.  The 
Hiluations  of  projoctcJ  bodies  ascertained  were  as  follows:  Part  of 
tlie  body  of  a  man,  throv.'n  nearly  horizontally  into  a  skitT  at  the 
v.ater's  gA^^g^  on;;  hundred  and  sixteen  feet.  The  body  of  the  cap- 
tain thrown  nearly  to  the  top  of  the  bank,  two  hundred  feet.  Tiie 
hody  of  a  mati  thrown  through  the  roof  of  a  house,  at  the  distance 
of  one  hundred  ami  twelve  feet,  and  fifty-nine  feet  above  the  wa- 
ter's {2i\f^Q.  A  portion  of  the  boiler,  containing  about  sixty  square 
feet,  and  weighing  about  four  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  thrown  one 
hundred  and  seventy  feet,  and  about  two-thirds  of  the  way  up  the 
hank.  A  second  portion  of  the  boiler,  of  about  thirty-five  square 
feet,  and  v.'oi^himr  about  tv.'o  hundred  and  forty-five  pounds,  thrown 
four  huntired  and  fifty  feet  on  the  hill  side,  and  seventy  feet  in  alti- 
tude. A  third  portion  of  the  boiler,  twenty-one  square  feet,  one 
iiundred  and  forty-seven  pounds,  tiirown  three  hundred  and  thirty 
I'eet  into  a  tan  yard.  A  fourth  portion,  of  forty-eight  square  feet, 
and  weifihing  throe  hundred  and  thirty-six  pounds,  thrown  four 
hundred  and  eighty  feet  into  the  garret  of  a  back-shop  of  a  tan- 
yard;  having  broken  down  the  nxjf  and  driven  out  the  gable-end. 
The  last  portion  must  have  been  thrown  to  a  very  great  lieight,  as 
it  had  entered  the  roof  of  an  angle  of  at  least  sixty  degrees.  A  fifih 
portion,  weighing  two  hunilred  and  thirty-six  pounds,  went  oblique- 
ly up  the  river  eight  hundred  feet,  and  passing  over  the  houses, 
landed  on  the  side  walk,  the  bricks  of  which  had  been  broken  and 
driven  deeply  into  the  ground  by  it.  This  portion  had  encountered 
some  individual  in  its  course  as  it  came  stained  with  blood.  Such  was 
the  situation  of  the  houses  that  it  must  have  fallen  at  an  angle  as 
high  as  forty-five  degrees.  It  has  been  stated,  that  bodies  of  per- 
sons were  projected  quite  across  the  river  into  Kentucky.  I  can 
find  no  evidence  of  the  truth  of  this:  on  the  contrary,  Mr.  Kerr  in- 
forms i«e,  that  he  made  inquiries  of  the  people  on  the  opposite  shore, 
and  'could  not  learn  that  any  thing  was  seen  to  fall  farther  than 
half  way  acrosg  the  river,'  which  is  at  that  place  about  sixteen 
hundred  feet  wide." 

I  was  at  Cincinnati  some  time  after  the  explosion,  and  examined 


I  >  'I 


i    i\ 


ti 


'    3 


i 


U 


80 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


*"*  1 


.(Hi!. 


hi 


the  wreck  which  still  lay  on  the  Ohio  shore.  After  the  report  was 
drawft  up  it  was  discovtred  that  the  force  of  the  explosion  had  bcert 
even  greater  than  was  supposed,  and  that  portions  of  the  engine 
and  boilers  had  been  thrown  to  a  much  greater  distance.  It  is  to 
bo  remarked,  that  Mr.  Woodbury's  report  to  Congress  states  from 
one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  persons  as  having  been 
killed.  Judge  Hall,  in  the  report  of  the  committee,  estinmtes  it 
atone  hundred  and  fifty;  but  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the 
loss  on  this  occasion,  as  well  as  in  many  others,  was  greater  thar. 
even  in  the  report  of  the  committee.  The  fact  is,  it  is  almost  im- 
possible to  state  the  loss  on  these  occasions;  the  only  data  to  go 
upon  are  tho  books  in  which  the  passengers' names  are  taken  down 
wfien  the  fiire  is  paid,  and  this  is  destroyed.  In  a  country  like 
America,  there  are  thousands  of  people  unknown  to  any  body,  mi* 
grating  here  and  there,  seeking  the  far  west  to  settle  in;  tiicy  como 
jind  go,  and  nobody  knows  any  thing  of  them;  there  might  have 
been  one  hundred  more  of  them  on  board  the  Moselle  nt  the  time 
that  she  exploded ;  and  as  I  heard  from  Captain  Pcarce,  liie  harbour- 
master, aiui  others,  it  is  believed  that  such  was  the  case,  and  that 
many  more  were  destroyed  than  was  at  first  supposed. 

The  American  steam-boats  are  very  different  from  our's  in  ap- 
pearance, in  consequence  of  the  engines  being  invariably  on  deck. 
The  docks  also  are  carried  out  many  feet  wider  on  each  side  than 
the  hull  of  the  vessel,  to  give  space;  these  additions  to  the  deck 
are  called  guards.  The  engine  being  on  the  first  deck,  there  is  a 
second  deck  for  the  passengers,  state-rooms,  and  saloons;  and  above 
this  deck  there  is  another,  covered  with  a  white  awning.  They 
have  something  the  appearance  of  two-deckers,  and  when  filled  with 
company,  the  variety  of  colours  worn  by  the  ladies  have  a  very 
novel  and  pleasing  effect.  The  boats  v/hich  run  from  New  York 
to  Boston,  and  up  the  Hudson  river  to  Albany,  are  very  splendid 
vessels;  they  have  low-pressure  engines, arc  well  commanded,  and 
I  never  heard  of  any  accident  of  any  importance  taking  place ;  their 
engines  are  also  ve'v  superior — one  on  board  of  the  Narangassett, 
with  a  horizontal  stroke,  was  one  of  the  finest  I  ever  saw.  On  the 
Mississippi,  Ohio,  and  their  tributary  rivers,  the  high-pressure  en- 
gine is  invariably  used ;  they  have  tried  the  low-pressure,  but  have 
r<)und  that  it  will  not  answer,  in  consequence  of  the  great  quantity 
(yf  mud  contained  in  solution  on  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi,  which 
destroys  all  the  valves  and  leathers;  and  this  is  the  principal  cause 
of  the  many  accidents  which  take  place.  At  the  same  time  it  must 
be  remembered,  that  there  is  a  recklessness — an  indifference  to 
life — shown  throughout  all  America ;  which  is  rather  a  singular 
feature,  inusmuch  as  it  extends  East  as  well  as  West,  It  can  only 
be  accounted  for  by  the  insatiate  pursuit  of  gain  among  a  people 
who  consider  that  time  is  money,  and  who  are  blinded  by  their  ea- 
gerness in  the  race  for  it,  added  to  that  venturous  spirit  so  naturally 
imbibed  in  a  new  country  at  the  commencement  of  its  occupation. 
It  is  communicai  l.to  the  other  sex«  who  appear  equally  indifferent. 
The  Moselle  had  not  been  blown  up  two  hours,  before  the  other 
^steamboats  were  qr^wded  with  women,  who  followed  their  rqlations 


on  bu>i 
the  mo 
go  a-h(; 

I  wa; 
a  steair 
to  jumj) 
recklcs 
re  Fitly 
leapt  o\ 

The 
reeled 
iHli-^,  a 
pa^st'iii: 
as  the 
rods  foi 
be  the 
be  prov; 
ropes, 
could  C( 
rapid  t.i 
170,  R< 
out.  iuiy 
.board. 

It  13 

act  of  t 
to  Irave 
limes, 
boats,  n 
I  read  ii 


liii 


MARRYAT  S  PIAUY. 


81 


report  was 
)  hud  been 
lie  engine 
It  is  to 
itates  from 
\\ng  been 
5ti  mates  iK 
a  that  the 
sater  than 
ilmost  im- 
data  to  go 
iken  down 
Lintry  like 
body,  mi* 
they  come 
light  liavc 
L  tiie  time 
c  harbour- 
3,  and  that 

ur's  in  ap- 

f  on  deck. 

I  side  than 

)  the  deck 

there  is  a 

and  above 

g.    They 

filled  with 

ve  a  very 

^ew  York 

splendid 

ndcd,  and 

ice;  their 

mgassett, 

On  the 

esiire  en- 

but  have 

quantity 

ipi,  which 

pal  cause 

le  it  must 

jrence  to 

singular 

can  only 

a  people 

their  ea- 

naturally 

cupation. 

different. 

the  other 

riQiat^ons 


on  business  or  pleasure,  up  and  down  the  river.    "  Go  a-head,"  is 
the  rnotto  of  the  country;  both  sexes  join  in  the  cry;  and  they  do 
go  a-h(.';i(l — thnCs  a  fact 
I 


r* 


ltl( 


wari  aiiiusou  with  a  story  told  me  by  an  American  gfiiiieman 
a  steairihoat  caught  tire  on  the  Mississippi,  and  the  passcnirors  had 
to  jiim|)  overboard  and  e^ave  themselves  by  swimming.  OMcot'lho.se 
reckless  characters,  a  gambler,  who,  was  on  board,  havuiL,'  appa- 
rently a  V(!ry  good  idea  ot*  his  own  merits,  went  all,  and  b-'lbre  he 
leapt  overboard,  cried  out,  "  Now,  gallows,  claim  your  own!" 

The  attention  of  the  American  legislature  has  at  longtii  bsen  di- 
rected to  the  want  of  t^ocurity  in  steam  navigation;  and  in  July, 
183S,  an  act  was  passed  to  provide  for  the  better  socnrity  <f  the 
pa^s^.•ng«'rs.  Many  of  the  claunes  are  judicious,  especially  as  far 
as  the  irii'pecting  of  them  is  regulated;  but  that  of  iron  chains  or 
rods  fir  tilliir  ropon  is  not  practicable  on  a  winding  river,  and  will 
be  the  occasion  of  matiy  disasters.  Had  they  ordered  ihf;  boats  to 
be  provided  with  iron  chains  or  rotls,  to  be  used  as  preventive  wheel- 
ropes,  it  would  have  answered  the  purpose.  In  case  of  fire  tiiey 
could  easily  be  hooked  on;  but  to  steer  with  them  in  tido-waysaud 
rapid  turns  is  almost  impossible.  The  last  clause,  No.  \'.\,  (page 
170,  Report)  is  too  harsh,  as  a  Hue  may  collapse  at  any  tinio,  with- 
out, any  want  of  career  skill  on  the  part  of  the  builders  or  those  on 
■board. 

It  is  to  bo  hoped  that  some  good  effects  will  bo  produced  by  this 
act  of  the  legislature.  At  present,  it  certainly  is  more  dangerous 
to  Iravel  one  wcjek  in  America  than  to  cross  the  Atlantic  a  dozen 
limes.  The  number  of  lives  lost  in  one  year  by  accidents  in  steam- 
boats, r&il-roads,  and  coaches,  was  estimated,  in  a  periodical  which 
I  read  iii  America,  ato;«?  thousand  seven  hundred  andjifty! 


CHAPTER  IV. 

TRAVELLING. 

To  one  vvlift  tia^  been  accustomed  to  the  extortion  of  the  inns 
and  hotels  in  England,  and  the  old  continent,  nothing  at  first  is  more 
remarkable  than  to  find  that  there  are  more  remains  of  the  former 
AmencHii  purity  of  manners  and  primitive  simplicity  to  be  observed 
in  their  eslabliehraeats  \ot  the  entertainment  of  man  and  horse, 

*  When  the  water  in  tWcf  rivers  is  low,  the  large  steam  vessels  very 
often  run  aground,  and  are<jbligcd  to  discharge  their  cargoes  and  pas. 
sengcfs.  At  these  times,  the  .smaller  steam  boats  ply  up  and  down  the 
rivers  to  take  advantage  of  these  misfortunes,  by  picking  up  passenger.s, 
and  making  most  exorbitant  charges  for  taking  them  or  the  goods  out, 
because  you  must  pay  th^m,  or  jeniain  wiiere  you  are.  'fhia  species 
of  cruizing  they  themselves  designate  as  ^^^oing  a  pirating.*^  I  will 
say  this  for  the  Americans,  that,  if  a  person,  who  considcra^thait  he  is 
fipt  doinj^  wrong,  does  not  dp  yr.runc^  tbej  arc  it  very  honc£t'  people. 


% 


ili 


■j    I 


'f 


'il 


32 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


1 


jiil 

m 


I.  I  i 


w  •' 


J  I     5 


li  I 


i 


1;' 


than  in  any  portion  of  public  or  private  life.    Such  is  the  case,  and 
Iho  causes  of  the  anomaly  arc  to  be  explained. 

I  |)rcsumc  that  the  ori^'in  of  hotels  and  inns  lias  been  much  the 
hatno  in  all  countries.  At  first  the  solitary  traveller  is  received, 
welcomed,  and  hospitably  entertained  ;  but  as  the  wayfarers  multi- 
ply, what  was  at  first  a  pleasure  becomes  a  tax.  For  instance,  let 
us  take  Western  Vir^jinia,  throujrh  which  the  first  irruption  to  the 
Far  VVost  may  be  said  to  have  taken  i)lacc.  At  first  everyone  was 
received  and  accommodated  by  those  wtjo  had  settled  there;  but  as 
this  n^radually  became  inconvenient,  not  only  from  interferinT^  with 
their  domestic  privacy,  but  from  their  not  beinn;  j)rcpared  to  meet 
the  wants  of  the  travellers,  the  inhabitants  of  any  small  settlement 
met  tofjether  and  aj^recd  upon  one  of  them  keepin^»'llie  house  of  re- 
ception;— this  was  not  done  with  a  view  of  prolit,  the  travellers 
beinjr  only  charged  the  actual  value  of  the  articles  consumed. 
jSiich  is  still  the  case  in  many  places  in  the  Fur  West;  a  friend  of 
mine  iM  me  that  he  put  uj)  at  the  house  of  a  widow  woman;  ho 
t-upped,  8lei)t,  had  his  breakfast,  and  his  horse  was  also  wi;!!  sup- 
plied. When  he  was  le;ivinnr,  ho  inquired  what  he  liad  to  p;iy!  the 
woman  replied — "  Well,  ifl  don't  charijfesomethin/r,  1  sii))pune  you 
will  be  affronted.  Give  me  a  shilling;"  a  sum  not  sufficicjit  to  pay 
fur  the  horse's  corn. 

The  American  innkeeper,  therefore,  is  still  ]of)l:ed  upon  in  the 
light  of  your  host;  he  and  his  wife  sit  at  the  head  of  the  tablc-d'hotc 
lit  meal  times;  v.'hcn  you  arrive  he  greets  you  with  a  welcome, 
sliaking  your  liand;  if  you  arrive  in  company  witii  those  who  know 
him,  you  are  introduced  to  him;  he  is  considered  on  a  level  with 
you;  you  meet  him  in  the  most  respectable  companies,  and  it  is 
\)Ul  justice  to  say  that,  in  most  instances,  th(  y  '^re  a  very  respecta- 
ble portion  of  society.  Of  course,  his  autlwiily,  like  that  of  the 
captains  of  the  steam-boats,  is  undisputed;  indeed  the  captains  of 
these  boats  may  be  partly  considered  as  classed  under  the  same 
h-ad. 

'i'his  is  one  of  the  most  pleasing  features  in  American  society^ 
and  I  think  it  is  likely  to  las^t  longer  tlian  most  others  in  this  land 
of  change,  because  it  is  upheld  by  jiublic  opinion,  which  is  so  des- 
potic. Tlie  mania  for  travelling,  among  the  people  of  the  United 
{States,  renders  it  most  important  that  every  thing  connected  with 
locomotion  should  be  v/ell  arranged;  society  demands  it,  public 
opinion  enforces  it,  and  therefore,  with  few  exceptions,  it  is  so. 
The  respect  shown  to  the  master  of  a  hotel  induces  people  of  th« 
highest  character  to  embark  in  the  profession;  the  continual  stream 
of  travellers  which  pours  through  the  country,  gives  sufTiGient  sup- 
port by  moderate  profits,  to  enable  the  iimkeeper  to  abstain  from 
excessive  charges;  the  price  of  every  thing  is  known  by  all,  and 
no  more  is  charged  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  than  to 
other  people.  Every  one  knows  his  expenses;  there  is  no  sur- 
charge, and  fees  to  waiters  are  voluntary,  and  never  asked  for.  At 
first,  I  used  to  examine  the  bill  when  presented,  but  latterly  I 
looked  only  at  the  sum  total  at  the  bottom  and  paid  it  at  once,  re- 
serving the  examination  of  it  for  my  leisure,  and  I  never  in  one 
instance  foirad  that  I  had  been  imposed  upon.    This  is  very  rj- 


markablo 
can  proih 
world,  an 
Of  courst 
chiefly  c< 
and  at  th( 
to  point  ( 
terior  arr 

The  bu 
that  in  th 
three  huii 
stories  co 
opening 
and  arran 
for  marrii 
tlie  bdildi 
ccive  the 
minutes  h 
to  break fii 
room,  to  \ 
considerai 
connexioi: 
to  retire 
some  of  1 1 
Jf  a  genti 
these  lar" 
join  toget 
quently  (U 
himself  « 
his  mind  t 
will  give  j 
as  serious 
was  in  Fr 

The  lar 
York ;  Tn 
hotels  at  ^ 
fnerate  tin 
which  wa 
the  Mansi 
Considero( 
was,  a  gei 
cause  he  i 
men  are  i 
else  I  can 
in  Americ 
his  sons,  o 
in  New  Y 
I  always  f 
rateur's  (1 

•The  A 
Utj,  as  we 


MARRYAT  8  DIARY. 


33 


case,  and 

much  the 
received, 
ers  multi- 
stance,  let 
ion  to  the 
y  one  was 
re;  but  as 
rij);T  with 
d  to  meet 
letllemenl 
use  of  rc- 
travellcrs 
;oi)suincd. 
I  friend  ot 
jman;  lie 
wi;!!  Hup- 
)  \r.iy]  the 
i)I)u.so  you 
-ijt  to  pay 

on  m  the 
bk-(Vh()te 
welcome, 
}\\0  kiTow 
jvel  with 
and  it  is 
respocta- 
at  of  tiiG 
plains  of 
the  same 

1  society, 
this  land 
is  so  des- 
G  United 
:ted  with 
it,  public 
it  is  so. 
e  of  tlio 
1  stream 
lent  sup- 
ain  from 
all,  and 
than  to 
no  Bur- 
br.     At 
itterly  I 
mce,  re- 
in one 
irery  ra- 


i 


I', 


markablc,  nnd  f^hows  the  force  of  public  opinion  in  America  ;  for  it 
can  priMluce,  when  re(piir(Ml,  a  very  scarce  article  all  over  tho 
world,  and  slill  more  scarce  in  the  protession  referred  to, — llnnesty. 
Of  course  there  will  be  exceptions,  but  they  are  very  few,  and 
chiefly  contined  to  tho  cities.  I  shall  refer  to  them  afterwards, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  some  peculiarities,  which  I  must  not  omit 
to  point  out,  as  they  afK'ct  society.  Let  me  first  describe  tho  in- 
terior arraufTiMiients  of  a  tirst-rnle  American  hotel. 

The  buildint;  is  very  spacious,  as  may  be  imatjined  when  I  state 
that  in  the  busy  times,  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two,  or  even 
three  lumdred,  generally  sit  down  at  the  dirmer-table.  The  upper 
stories  contain  an  immense  number  of  bed-rooms,  with  their  doors 
openingr  upon  lon^  corridors,  with  little  variety  in  their  furniture 
and  arranirement,  except  that  some  are  provided  with  larire  beds 
lor  married  people,  and  others  with  sinjjie  bods.  The  basement  of 
tlie  biiildmn-  contains  the  dinner-room,  of  ample  dimensions,  to  re- 
ceive the  {Tuests,  who  at  the  sound  of  a  gon^  rush  in,  and  in  a  (qw 
minutes  have  fmished  their  repast.  The  same  room  is  appropriated 
to  breakfast  and  6U[)per.  In  most  hotels  there  is  but  one  dining- 
room,  to  which  ladies  and  ijentlemen  both  repair,  but  in  the  more 
considerable,  there  is  a  smaller  dininjy-room  for  the  ladies  and  their 
connexions  who  escort  them.  The  ladies  have  also  a  large  parlour 
to  retire  to;  tho  {gentlemen  have  the  rcadinn[-room,  containinrj 
someof  tlie  principal  newspapers,  and  the  Zirtr,  of  which  hereailcr. 
If  a  jrentleman  wants  to  grive  a  dinner  to  a  private  party  in  any  of 
these  larfje  hotels,  he  can  do  it;  or  if  a  certain  number  of  families 
join  tog^ether,  they  may  also  eat  in  a  separate  room  (this  is  fre- 
quently done  at  VVashinfjton;)  but  if  a  traveller  wishes  to  seclude 
himself  a  /'  Anglalse^  and  dine  in  his  own  room,  he  must  make  up 
his  mind  to  fare  very  badly,  and,  moreover,  if  he  is  a  forei3;ner,  ho 
will  give  great  offence,  and  be  pointed  out  as  an  aristocrat — almost 
9S  serious  a  charge  with  the  majority  in  the  United  States,  as  it 
was  in  France  during  the  Revolution, 

The  largest  hotels  in  the  United  States  are  Astor  House,  New 
York;  Tremont  House,  Boston;  Mansion  House,  Philadelphia;  tho 
hotels  at  West  Point,  and  at  Buffalo;  but  it  is  unnecessary  to  enu- 
merate them  all.  The  two  pleasantest,  are  the  one  at  W»'st  Point, 
which  wiis  kept  by  Mr.  Cozens,  and  that  belonging  to  Mr.  Head, 
the  Mansion  House  at  Philadelphia;  but  the  latter  can  scarcoly  be 
consideroi!  as  a  hotel,  not  only  because  Mr.  Head  is,  and  always 
was,  a  gentleman  with  whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  associate,  but  be* 
cause  he  is  very  particular  in  whom  he  receives,  and  only  gentle- 
men are  admitted.  It  is  more  like  a  private  club  than  any  thing 
else  I  can  compare  it  to,  and  I  passed  some  of  my  pleasantosl  time 
in  America  at  his  establishment,  and  never  bid  farewell  to  him  or 
his  sons,  or  the  company,  without  regret.  There  are  some  hotels 
in  New  York  upon  the  English  system :  the  Globe  is  the  best,  and 
I  always  frequented  it;*  and  there  ia  an  excellent  li'rench  restaur 
rateur's  (Delnaonico's.) 

*  The  Americans  are  apt  to  boast  that  they  have  not  to  pay  for  civk 
Utj,  as  we  do  in  England,  by  feeing  waitersj  coachmen,  &c.    In  somQ 


nj 


MARRYAT  S  DIAUY. 


Of  course,  where  the  population  and  trnflic  are  prcat,  nnd  tlio 
truvellciH  who  pass  throu|i,'h  numerous,  the  hotels  are  lupfro  and 
{jood;  where,  on  the  contrary,  the  ro.id  is  lesB  and  less  frequented, 
bo  d*^'  they  decrease  in  importance,  sizo,  nnd  r«.>8pectability,  until 
you  .rive  at  the  farni-liouso  entertainment  of  Virf,Mnia  and  Ken- 
tucky; the  grocery,  or  mere  ffrog:-shop,  ( r  the  loff-liDUse  of  tho 
Far  West.  The  way-side  inns  are  remarkable  for  their  uniformity; 
the  furniture  of  the  bar-room  is  invariably  the  same:  a  wooden 
ch)ck,  map  of  the  United  States,  map  of  the  State,  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  a  lookinfj-jjlass,  with  a  hair-bruah  and  comb  hanf»- 
ing"  to  it  by  etrinfjs,  pro  bono  publico;*'  sometimtis  with  the  extra 
embellishment  of  one  or  two  miserable  pictures,  such  as  General 
Jackson  scramblinjr  upon  a  horse,  with  fire  or  steam  cominjif  out  of 
his  nostrils,  goingr  to  the  battle  of  New  Orleans,  «fcc.  &.C. 

lie  wlio  is  of  the  silver-fork  school,  will  not  fmd  much  comfort 
out  of  the  American  cities  and  largo  towns.  There  are  no  neat, 
quiet  little  inns,  as  in  Enj^land.  It  is  all  the  "rough  and  tumble" 
tjystcm,  and  when  you  stop  at  humble  inna  you  must  expect  to  eat 
peas  with  a  two-pronged  fork,  and  to  sit  down  to  meals  with  people 
whose  exterior  is  any  thing  but  agreeable,  to  attend  upon  yourself, 
and  to  sleep  in  a  room  in  which  there  are  three  or  four  other  beds ; 
(I  have  slept  in  one  with  nearly  twenty,)  most  of  I'.iem  carrying 
double,  even  if  you  do  not  have  a  companion  in  your  own. 

A  New  York  friend  of  mine  travelling  in  an  Extra  with  his  fa- 
mily, told  me  that  at  a  western  inn  he  iiad  particularly  requested 
that  he  might  not  have  a  bcd-fellow,  and  was  promised  that  he 
should  not.  On  his  retiring,  he  found  his  bed  already  occupied,  and 
he  went  down  to  the  landlady,  and  expostulated.    "  Well,"  replied 


1 


ehc,   " 
him!" 

Anot 
Snake's 
chen-flr 
scvenioi 
togcthe 
is  a  sou 

I  muf 
of  eat  in; 
country 


respects  this  is  true,  but  in  the  cities  the  custom  has  V)ccomc  very  pre- 
valent, A  man  who  attends  a  larffc  dinner-table,  will  of  course  pay 
more  attention  to  tiiosc  who  jjivo  liim  something',  than  to  those  who 
do  not;  one  gives  him  sninclhing,  and  another,  if  he  wishes  for  attcn- 
lion  and  civility,  is  obliged  to  do  the  same  thing'.  In  some  of  the 
hotels  at  New  York,  and  in  the  principal  cities,  you  not  only  must 
fee,  but  you  must  fee  much  higher  than  you  do  in  England,  if  you 
want  to  be  comfortable. 

*If  I  am  rigiitly  informed,  there  are  very  unpleasant  cutaneous  dis- 
eases to  wiiieli  the  Americans  are  subject,  from  the  continual  use  of 
the  same  brush  and  comb,  and  from  sleeping  together,  &,c.,  but  it  is  a 
general  custom.  At  Philadelphia,  a  large  ball  was  given,  (called,  I 
think,  the  Fireman's  Ball,)  and  at  which  about  1,500  people  were  pre- 
sent, all  the  fashion  of  rhiladelphia;  yet  even  here  there  were  six 
combs,  and  six  brushes,  placed  in  a  room  with  six  looking-glasses  for 
the  use  of  aW  the  gentlemen.  An  American  has  come  into  my  room  in 
New  York,  an  sans  ctrimonie  taken  up  my  hair-brush,  and  amused 
himself  with  brushing  his  head.  They  are  certainly  very  unrefined  in 
the  toilet  as  yet.  When  I  was  travelling,  on  my  arrival  at  a  city  I 
ojMined  my  dressing  case,  and  a  man  passing  by  my  room  when  tho 
door  was  open,  attracted  by  the  glitter,  I  presume,  came  in  and  looked 
at  the  apparatus  which  is  usually  contained  in  such  articles — "  Pray, 
Sir,"  said  he,  "  are  you  a  dentist?" 


Vcrmicc 
iJoilcd  C 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


t,  and  tlio 
lur^rc  and 
rc(|ucnlt'(i, 
ility,  until 
luul  Ken- 
use  of  iho 
nilurtnity; 
a  wooden 
cclarution 
t)rnl)  hanjT- 
llie  extra 
8  General 
liiifj  out  of 

:lj  comtort 
3  no  neat, 
J  tumble" 
►ect  to  eat 
ith  people 
n  yourself, 
Iher  beds ; 
I  carrying 
I. 

ith  his  fa- 
requested 
d  that  he 
|upicd,  and 
1,"  replied 

very  pre- 
ourse  pay 
tliosc  who 

for  attcn- 
me  of  the 
only  must 
nd,  if  you 

ncous  die- 

ual  use  of 

but  it  is  a 

(called,  I 

were  pre- 

were  six 

glasses  for 

ly  room  in 

d  amused 

refined  in 

t  a  city  I 

when  the 

nd  looked 

-"  Pray, 


Bho,   "  it's  only  your  own  driver ;  I  thought  you  wouldn't  mind 
him !" 

Another  {jcntleman  told  mc,  that  havinjf  arrived  nt  n  place  called 
Snake's  Hollow,  on  fbo  MissisHippi,  the  hetl  waH  niach?  on  the  kit- 
chen-floor, and  the  w  olo  family  and  travellers,  ainountin;;  in  oil  to 
Hcvcfiloen,  of  all  nfjcs  and  both  sexes,  turned  into  the  Hurno  bod  nl- 
to;jctlinr.  Of  course  this  must  be  expected  in  a  new  country,  and 
is  a  source  of  amusrrnnnt,  rather  thnn  of  annoyance. 

I  must  now  enter  into  a  very  important  ([ucstion,  which  is  tint 
ofeatiufjand  drinK  f.  Mr.  ('oopor,  in  his  rt'iiiarks  upon  lii.>;  own 
countrymen,  says,  very  ill-naturedly — "The  Americans  are  the 
ijropscst  feeders  of  any  civilized  nation  known.  Ah  a  nation,  tI»oir 
food  is  heavy,  course,  and  imli;;ostibIe,  while  it  is  taken  in  the  least 
artificial  forms  that  cookery  will  allow.  The;  predominance  of 
fjrease  in  the  American  kitchen,  coupled  with  the  habits  of  hearty 
eating-,  and  of  constant  expectoration,  are  the  causes  of  the  diseases 
of  the  stotnacli  which  are  so  common  in  America." 

This  is  not  correct.  The  cookery  in  the  United  States  is  exact- 
ly what  it  is  and  must  he  every  where  else — in  a  ratio  witlitliede- 
prce  of  relinement  of  the  population.  In  the  principal  cities,  you 
will  meet  with  as  fjfood  cuokery  in  private  houses  as  you  will  in 
London,  or  even  I'aris;  indeed,  considering  the  i^rcat  ditlicnlty 
which  the  Americans  have  to  contend  with,  from  the  almost  impos- 
tiibility  of  ohtainiiif''  f;ood  servants,  I  have  often  bc^en  surfirised  that 
it  is  so  200(1  as  it  is.  At  Delmonico's,  and  the  (Jlobo  Hotel  at  Xew 
York,  where  you  dine  from  the  Carte,  you  have  excellent  Freiicli 
cookery;  so  you  have  at  Astor  IIouho,  ])articularly  at  private  par- 
tics;  and,  irrnerally  spcukinq',  the  cookinij  at  all  the  larixe  hotids 
may  bo  t-aid  to  he  f^ood  ;  indeed,  when  it  is  Cf)nsi(ler(Ml  that  the  Ame- 
rican tabIe-(l'liot(^  lias  to  provide  for  tn>  many  people,  it  is  (juite  siir- 
prisiniT  how  well  it  is  done,  'i'he  daily  dinner,  at  these  larijo  ho- 
tels, is  infinitely  superior  to  any  I  have  ever  sat  down  to  at  \hv.  j»th- 
lic  entertainments  p-iven  at  the  Free-Masons'  Tavern,  and  oiber,-^ 
in  London,  and  the  eompany  \a  usually  more  numerous.  Tlie  bill 
of  thro  of  the  table-d'hole  oftlie  Astor  House  is  printed  rvcnj  d<nj, 
I  have  one  with  me  which  I  shall  here  insert,  to  prove  that  the  eat- 
ing is  not  so  bad  in  America  as  described  by  Mr.  Cooper. 

AsToa  IToL'SE,  Wednesday,  March  21,  1838. 
Tailed'  HiAc. 


Vcrniicplli  Soup 

iJoilcd  Cot!  Fish  and  Oysters 

Do.    Corn\l  Bcof 

Do.     llatn 

Do.     Tonp;uc 

Do.     Turkey  and  Oysters 

Do.     Chickens  and  Pork 

Do.    Leg  of  Mutton 
Oyster  Pie 

Caisse  dc  Poulct  Sauce  Tomate 
Poitrinc  do  Vcau  au  Blanc 


Saladc  dc  Volaille 
Ballon  dc  Mouton  an  Tomate 
TCte  dc  Vcau  en  Marinade 
Casscrollc  dc  Pomme   dc   Torre 

jjarnic 
Compote  dc  Pigeon 
Rollcau  dc  Vcau  a  la  Jardiniere 
Cotellettes  dc  Vcau  Saute 
Filet  dc  Moonton  Pique  aux  Og- 

nons 
Rondc  dc  Bceuf 


I'fl 

I 


ff 


ill 


li 


i' 


'i 


111' 


86 


MARRY  AT  8  DIARY. 


Fricandeau  de  Vcau  aux  Epi- 

nards 
Cotclcttcs  dc  Mouton  Panee 
JVIacarnni  au  Parnicean 
Koast  Beef 

Do.     Piff 

Do.     Veul 

t)o.    Leu  of  Mutton 
Roast  Goose 

Do.     Turkey 


Roast  Chickens 
Do.     Wild  Ducks 
Do.     Wild  Goose 
Do.     (iuiiiea  Fowl 

Roast  Brandt 

Queen  Pudding 

Mince  Pie 

Cream  Putfs 

De3si;rt. 


'  '■ 


i|.r: 


I 'I!  '' 


ll  (•' 


i 


There  are  some  trifling  points  relative  to  eating  whicli  I  shali 
not  remark  upon  until  I  speak  of  Guciety,  as  they  will  there  he  bet- 
ter placed.    Of  course,  as  you  advance  into  the  country,  and  po- 
pulation recedes,  you  run  tiirou^rh  all  the  scale  of  cookery  until 
you  come  to  the  ^^corn  bread,  and  common  doiniis,^''  (i.  e.  bread 
made  of  Indian  meal,  and  fat  pork,)  in  the  far  West.     In  a  new 
•country,  pork  is  more  easily  raised  than  any  other  meat,  and  the 
Americans  eat  a  great  deal  of  pork,  which  renders  the  cooking  in 
•the  small  taverns  very  greasy;  witii  the  excepti(jn  of  the  Virginian 
farm  taverns,  where  they  fry  chickens  without  grease  in  a  way 
which  would  be  admired  by  Ude  hiniself;  but  this  is  a  State  receipt, 
handed  down  from  generation  to  generation,  and   called   chicken 
fixings.     The  meat  in  America  istqual  to  the  best  in  En;;land ; 
JMiss  Martineau  does  indeed  say  that  she  never  ate  good  beef  during 
the  whole  time  she  was  in  this  country;  but  she  also  says  that  an 
American  stage-coach  is  the  most  dei'.oiitful  of  all  conveyanccp, 
and  a  great  rnr.ny  other  things,  whicli  I  may  lierealbr  quote,  to 
prove  tiie  idiosyncracy  of  the  lady's  dit^position;  so  we  will  let  that 
pass,  W'ilh  the  observati(jn  that  there  is  no  accounting  l()r  taste. 
The  American  markets  in  the  cities  are  well  supplied.     I  have 
been  in  the  game  market,  at  New  York,  and  seen  at  (.ne  time  near- 
ly three  hundred  head  of  doer,  with  quantities  of  bear,  rackoons, 
wild  turkies,  geese,  ducks,  and  every  variety  of  bird  in  countless 
pruiijsion.     Ber.r  I  abominate  ;  rackoon  is  pretty  good.     The  wild 
turkey  is  excellent;  but  the  great  delicacies  in  America  are  the 
terrapin,  and  the  canvas-back  ducks.     To  like  the  fir.^t  I  consider  as 
rather  an  acquired  taste.     I  decidedly  prefer  the  turtle,  which  are 
to  be  had  in  plenty,  all  the  year  round;   but  tlie  canvas-back  duck 
is  certainly  well  worthy  of  its  reputation.     Fish  is  well  supplied. 
They  have  the  sheep's  head,  shad,  and  one  or  tw^o  others,  which  we 
have  not.     Their  f^almon  is  not  equal  to  ours,  and  they  have  no  tur- 
bot.     Pine-apples,  and  almost  all  the  tropical  fruits,  are  hawked 
about  in  carts  in  the  Eastern  cities;  but  I  consider  the  fruit  of  the 
temperate  zone,  such  as  grapes,  peaches,  &.c.,  inferior  to  the  Eng- 
Jish.    Oysters  are  very  plentiful,  very  large,  and,  to  an  English  pa- 
late, rather  insipid.    As  the  Americans  assert  that  the  English  and 
French  oysters  taste  of  copper,  and  that  therefore  they  cannot  eat 
them,  I  presume  they  do;  and  that's  the  reason  why  we  do  not  like 
the  American  oysters,  copper  being  better  than  no  flavour  at  all. 

I  think,  after  this  statement,  that  the  English  will  agree  with  me 
that  there  are  plenty  of  good  things  for  the  table  in  America;  but 
the  old  proverb  says,  "God  sends  meat,  and  the  devil  sends  cooks;" 


moup,  and 
that  man} 
imported. 

The  sm 
American 
juice,  mi.\ 
drink,  a  v 
dollars  a  ( 
fills  up,  if 
to  the  pop 

Claret, 
but, where 
ra,  which 
land.  Th 
which  r'\\. 
tastvjd  goc 
price  of  w 
a  trifling  t 
There  are 
be  certain 
even  fortj 
House,  to 
serted.  E 
best  Made 
[  curious  fro 


MARRYAT's  DkARVk 


■  -m 


licli  I  shall 

lere  he  bet- 

Iry,  and  po- 

)<)kt  ry  until 

(i.  c.  bread 

In  a  new 

at,  and  the 

cookinnf  in 

e  Virginian 

I  in  a  way 

Late  receipt, 

ed   chicken 

1  Eii;:land ; 

bctf  iJuring- 

ays  tfiat  an 

•nvcyanccp, 

r  quote,  to 

I'il!  let  that 

fj  lor  taste. 

d.     I  have 

lime  near- 

,  rackoonf!, 

1  countless 

The  wild 

ca  are  the 

coMsider  as 

which  are 

Kick  duck 

supplied. 

which  we 

ive  no  tur- 

e  hawked 

ruit  of  the 

the  Eng- 

njrlish  pa- 

nglish  and 

;annot  eat 

o  not  like 

•  at  all. 

J  with  me 

rica;  but 

Is  cooks;" 


and  such  is,  and  unfortunately  must  be  the  case  for  a  long  while, 
in  ii?oat  of  the  houses  in  America,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  obtain- 
ing, or  kee,.ing  servants.  But  I  must  quit  the  subject  of  eating, 
for  one  of  much  more  importance  in  America,  which  is  that  of 
drinking. 

I  always  did  consider  that  the  English  and  the  Swiss  were  the 
two  nations  who  most  indulged  in  potations;  but  on  my  arrival  in 
the  United  States,  I  found  that  our  descendants,  in  this  point  most 
assuredly,  as  they  fain  would  be  thought  to  do  in  all  others,  sur- 
passed us  altogether. 

I-npartiality  compels  me  to  acknowledge  the  truth  ;  we  must,  in 
this  instance,  submit  to  a  national  defeat.  There  are  many  causes 
for  this:  first,  the  heat  of  the  climate,  next  the  coldness  of  the  cli- 
mate, then  the  changeableness  of  the  climate;  add  to  these,  the 
cheapness  of  liquor  in  general,  the  early  disfranchisement  of  the 
youth  from  all  j^aroiital  control,  the  temptation  arising  from  the  bar 
and  association,  and,  lastly,  the  pleasantness,  amenity,  and  variety 
of  the  potations. 

Reasons,  therefore,  arc  as  plentiful  as  blackberries,  and  habit  be- 
comes second  nature. 

To  run  up  the  whole  catalogue  of  the  indigenous  compounds  in 
America,  from  "  iced  water"  to  a  "  stone  fence,"  or  "streak  of 
lightning,"  would  fill  a  volume;  Ishall  first  speak  of  foreign  impor- 
tations. 

The  Port  in  America  is  seldom  good ;  the  climate  appears  not  to 
agree  with  the  wine.  The  quantity  of  Champagne  drunk  is  enor- 
mous, and  would  absorb  all  the  vintage  of  France,  were  it  noi 
that  many  hundred  thousand  bottles  are  consumed  more  than  are 
imported. 

The  small  state  of  New  Jersey  has  the  credit  of  supplying  the 
American  Champagne,  which  is  said  to  be  concocted  out  of  turnip 
juice,  mi.xed  with  brandv  -Mid  honey.  It  is  a  pleosant  and  harmless 
drink,  a  very  good  imitation,  and  may  be  purchased  at  six  or  seven 
dollars  a  dozen.  I  do  not  know  what  we  shall  do  when  America 
fills  up,  if  the  demand  for  Champagne  should  increase  in  proportion 
to  the  population ;  we  had  better  drink  all  we  can  now. 

Claret,  and  the  other  French  wines,  do  very  well  in  America, 
but, where  the  Americans  beat  us  out  of  the  field  is  in  their  Madei- 
ra, which  certainly  is  of  a  quality  which  we  cannot  procure  in  Eng- 
land,    rhis  is  owing  to  the  extreme  heat  and  cold  of  the  climate, 
which  ripens  this  wine;  indeed,  I   may  almost  say,  that  I  never 
tastjd  good  Madeira,  until  I  arrived  in  the  United  States.     The 
price  of  wines,  generally  speaking,  is  very  high,  considering  what 
a  trifling  duty  is  paid,  but  the  price  of  good  Madeira  is  surprising. 
There  are  certain  brands,  which  if  exposed  ''.o  public  auction,  will 
be  certain  to  fetch  from  twelve  to  twenty,  .md  I  have  been  told 
even  forty  dollars  a  bottle.     I  insert  a  list  of  the  wines  at  Astor 
House,  to  prove  that  there  is  no  exaggeration  in  what  I  have  as- 
serted.   Even  in  this  list  of  a  tavern,  the  reader  will  find  that  the 
best  Madeira  is  as  high  as  twelve  dollars  a  bottle,  and  the  list  is 
curious  from  the  variety  which  it  offers. 


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40 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


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MARRYAT'S  DIARY. 


41 


C 


But  the  Americans  do  not  confine  themselves  to  foreign  wines 
or  liquors;  they  have  every  variety  at  home,  in  the  shape  of  com- 
pounds, such  as  mint-julep  and  its  varieties;  slings  in  all  their  va- 
rieties; cock-tails, — but  I  really  cannot  remember,  or  if  I  couW,  it 
would  occupy  too  much  time  to  mention  the  whole  battle  array 
against  one's  brains.  I  must,  however,  descant  a  little  upon  the 
mint-julep;  as  it  is,  with  the  tliormomctor  at  100°,  one  of  the  most 
delightful  and  insinuating  potations  that  ever  was  invented,  and 
may  be  drank  with  equal  satisfaction  when  the  thermometer  is  as 
low  as  70".  There  are  many  varieties,  such  us  those  composed  of 
Claret,  Madeira,  &c. ;  but  the  ingredients  of  the  real  mint-julep 
are  as  follows.  I  learnt  how  to  make  them,  and  succeeded  pretty 
well.  Put  into  a  tumbler  about  a  dozen  sprigs  of  the  tender  shoots 
of  mint,  upon  them  put  a  spoonful  of  white  sugar,  and  squal  pro 
portions  of  peach  and  common  brandy,  so  as  to  fill  it  up  one  third, 
or  perhaps  a  little  les-s.  Then  take  rasped  or  pounded  ice,  and  fill 
up  the  tumbler.  Epicures  rub  the  lips  of  the  tumbler  with  a  piece 
of  fresh  pine-apple,  and  the  tumbler  itself  is  very  often  incrustcd 
outside  with  stalactites  of  ice.  As  the  ice  melts,  you  drink.  I 
once  overheard  two  ladies  talking  in  the  next  room  to  me,  and  one 
of  them  said,  "  Well,  if  I  liave  a  weakness  for  any  one  thing,  it  is 
lor  a  mint-julep — ''  a  vt;ry  amiable  weakness,  and  proving  iier  good 
sense  and  good  taste.  They  are,  in  fact,  like  tlie  American  ladies, 
irresistible. 

The  Virginians  claim  the  merit  of  having  invented  this  su- 
perb compound,  but  1  must  disjinte  it  f()r  my  own  country,  although 
it  has  been  forgotten  of  bite.  In  tiie  tinief;  of  Charles  i.  and  If.  it 
must  have  been  known,  fur  Milton  expressly  rei'ers  to  it  in  his  Co- 
rn us: — 


09 
O 


"  ]3cliold  the  cordiii]  julep  here 
AV'iiich  iluints  and  dunces  in  its  crj'stal  bounds 
Willi  spirits  o\'  iulni  und  frafrra7)t  si/rups  mixed. 
Not  that  NciK'ntlies,  wliicii  the  wile  ol'Tlioac 
In  Egypt  gave  to  Jove-born  Helena 
Is  of  such  power  to  stir  vip  joy  like  this, 
To  life  so  iriendly,  or  so  cud  to  ^•.i/■s<." 


Sir 


I  ^j  ^H 


s 

KI 

u 

■s 

o- 

1 

ot 

1 

00 

u 

I—, 

c 

ro 

^ 

If  that  don't  mean  mint-julep,  I  don't  know  the  English  language. 

The  following  lincy,  however,  which  I  found  in  an  American 
newspaper,  dates  its  origin  very  lar  back,  even  to  the  period  when 
the  heathen  gods  were  not  at  a  discount  as  tliey  are  now. 

ORIGIN  OF  MINT.JULEP. 

"  'Tis  said  that  the  gods,  on  Olympus  of  old, 

(And  who,  the  bri§;lit  legend  profanes,  with  a  doubt,) 
One  night,  'mid  their  revels,  by  Bacchus  were  told 
That  his  last  butt  of  nectar  had  somewhat  run  out! 


r  r  ■ 


But  determined  to  send  round  the  goblet  once  more^ 
They  sued  to  the  fairer  immortals  for  aid 

4* 


42 


marryat's  diary. 


U<'\ 


In  composing  a  draught  which,  till  drinking  were  o'er, 
Should  cast  every  wine  ever  drank  in  the  shade. 

Grave  Ceres  liersclf  blithely  yielded  her  corn, 

And  the  spirit  that  lives  in  each  ambcr-hued  grain, 

And  which  first  had  its  birth  from  the  dews  of  the  morn, 
Was  tauglit  to  steal  out  in  bright  dew  drops  again. 

Pomonn,  whose  choicest  of  fruits  on  the  board, 
Were  scattered  profusely  in  every  one's  reach. 

When  called  on  a  tribute  to  cull  from  the  board. 
Expressed  the  mild  juice  of  the  delicate  peach. 

The  liquids  were  mingled  while  Venus  looked  on 
With  glances  so  fraught  with  sweet  magical  power, 

Tiiat  the  honey  of  Ilybia,  e'eu  when  they  were  gone. 
Has  never  been  missed  in  the  draught  from  that  hour. 


Flora,  then,  from  her  bo:?om  of  fragrancy  shook, 
And  wilii  roseate  fingers  pressed  down  in  the  bow 

All  dripping  and  fresh  as  it  came  from  the  brook, 
Tiic  iicrb  who:-'e  aroma  should  flavour  the  whole. 


1, 


The  draught  was  delicious,  each  god  did  exclaim, 
Tliough  something  yet  wanting  tliry  all  did  bewail, 

Cut  Ji'i.F.rs  the  drink  of  immortals  beeaiue, 
When  Jove  himself  added  a  handful  of  hail." 

I  have  nipntionod  the  principal  causes  to  which  must  bo  assiirncd 
the  propensity  to  drink,  so  universal  in  America.  This  is  an  unde- 
niable fact,  asserted  by  every  other  writer,  acknowledged  by  the 
Americans  themselves  in  print,  and  proved  by  the  labours  of  their 
Temperance  Societies.  It  is  not  confined  to  the  lower  classes,  but 
pervades  the  whole  mass:  of  course,  where  there  is  most  refinement, 
there  is  less  intoxication,  and  in  the  Southern  and  Western  States, 
it  is  that  the  custom  of  drinking^  is  most  prevalent. 

I  have  eaid  that  in  the  American  hotels  there  is  a  parlour  for  the 
ladies  to  retire  to:  there  is  not  one  for  the  gentlemen,  who  have 
only  the  reading-room,  where  they  stand  and  read  tiie  papers,  which 
are  laid  out  on  desks,  or  the  bar. 

Tlie  bar  of  an  American  hotel  is  generally  a  very  large  room  on 
the  basement,  fitted  up  very  much  like  our  gin  palaces  in  London, 
not  so  elegant  in  its  decorations  indeed,  but  on  the  same  system. 
A  long  counter  runs  across  it,  behind  which  stand  two  or  three  bar- 
keepers to  wait  upon  the  customers,  and  distribute  the  various 
potations,  compounded  from  the  contents  of  several  rows  of  bottles 
behind  them.  Here  the  eye  reposes  on  masses  of  pure  crystal  ice, 
large  bunches  of  mint,  decanters  of  every  sort  of  wine,  every  variety 
of  spirits,  lemons,  sugar,  bitters,  segars  and  tobacco;  it  really  makes 
one  feel  thirsty,  even  the  going  into  a  bar.*  Here  you  meet  every 
body  and  every  body  meets  you.  Here  the  senator,  the  member  of 
Congress,  the  merchant,  the  store-keeper,  travellers  from  the  Far 

•  Erery  steam-boat  has  its  bar.  The  theatres,  all  places  of  public 
amusement,  and  even  the  capitol  itself,  as  I  have  observed  in  my  Diarj. 


I 

"a 


West,  ar 
chase  g( 

Most 
business 
confiden 
politics, 
occasioni 
Mansion 
is  no  dri 
would  a 
to  retire 
the  most 

Thee 
that  thci 
cohol,  an 
drink  wi 
with  a  St 
acquaint 

Mr.  A, 
you  r'— ' 
"Well,] 
Touch  g 
sling,  am 
you  r—' 
— what 
tail."— '• 
down  on 

Then  ] 
my  frienc 
the  acqui 
somethin 
a  julep. 
Mr.  A.  y 
— drink. 

Now,  ] 
fair  samp 

They  s 
a  dinner. 
If  you  m 
ance,  yoi 
tlieirdrir 
is  hot;  th 
drink  am 
early  in 
early  in  1 
To  use  1 
caution.' 
long  to  tl 
"it's  vei 

So  mu 

»  Itw 

low-spiril 


rii, 


10  assiirncn 
s  an  iinde- 
red  l)y  the 
rs  of  their 
lasses,  but 
efinernont, 
3rn  States, 

Dur  f(.)r  the 
who  liave 
ers,  which 

e  room  on 
n  London, 
le  eystem. 
three  bar- 
He  various 
of  bottles 
rystal  ice, 
ry  variety 
illy  makes 
leet  every 
tiember  of 
n  the  Far 

s  of  public 
my  Diary. 


I 


MARRY  AT  B  DIART. 


48 


West,  and  every  other  part  of  the  country,  who  have  come  to  pur- 
chase goods,  all  congregate. 

Most  of  them  have  a  eegar  in  their  mouth,  some  are  transacting 
business,  others  conversing,  some  sitting  down  together  whispering 
confidentially.  Hcreyouobtain  all  the  news,  all  the  scandal,  all  the 
^olitics,  and  all  the  tim;  it  is  this  dangerous  propinquity,  which 
occasions  so  much  intemperance.  Mr.  Head  has  no  bur  at  the 
Mansion-House  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  consequence  is,  that  thero 
is  no  drinking,  except  wine  at  dinner;  but  in  all  the  other  hotels,  it 
would  appear  as  if  they  purposely  allowed  the  frequenters  no  room 
to  retire  to,  so  that  they  must  be  driven  to  the  bar,  which  is  by  far 
the  most  profitable  part  of  the  concern. 

The  consequence  of  the  bar  being  the  place  of  general  resort,  is, 
that  there  is  an  unceasing  pouring  out,  and  amulgamation  of  al- 
cohol, and  other  compounds,  from  morning,  to  late  at  night.  To 
drink  with  a  friend  when  you  moot  him  is  good  follovvship,  to  drink 
with  a  stranger  is  politeness,  and  a  proof  of  wishing  to  be  better 
acquainted. 

Mr.  A.  is  standing  at  the  bar,  enter  B.  "  My  dear  B,  how  are 
you?"— "Quite  well,  and  you  ]"—"  Well,  what  shall  it  bo  ]"— 
"  Well,  I  don't  care — a  gin  sling." — "  Two  gin  slings,  Bar-keepor." 
Touch  glasses,  and  drink.  Mr.  A.  has  hardly  swallowed  his  gin 
slino",  and  replaced  his  segar,  when,  in  comes  Mr.  D.  *' A.  how  are 
you?" — ''Ah!  D,  how  goes  it  on  with  you  ?" — "  Well,  I  thankey 
— what  shall  we  have  J" — Well,  I  don't  care  ;  I  say  brandy  cock- 
tail."— "Give  me  another,"  both  drink,  and  the  shilling  is  thrown 
down  on  the  counter. 

Then  B.  comes  up  again.  "A.  you  must  allow  me  to  introduce 
my  friend  C." — "  Mr.  A."— shake  hands — "Most  happy  to  make 
the  acquaintance.  J  trust  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  drinking 
something  with  you  ?" — "  With  great  pleasure,  Mr.  A.,  I  will  take 
a  julep.  Two  juleps,  bar-keeper." — "  Mr.  C.  your  good  health — 
Mr.  A.  yours;  if  you  should  come  our  way,  most  happy  to  see  you," 
—drink. 

Now,  I  will  appeal  to  the  Americans  themselves,  if  this  is  not  a 
fairsaniple  of  a  bar-room. 

They  say  that  the  English  cannot  settle  anything  properly,  without 
a  dinner.  I  am  sure  the  Americans  can  fix  nothing,  without  a  drink 
If  you  meet,  you  drink;  if  you  part,  you  drink;  if  you  make  acquaint- 
ance, you  drink ;  if  you  close  a  bargain  you  drink ;  they  quarrel  in 
tlieir  drink,  and  they  make  it  up  with  a  drink.  They  drink,  because  it 
is  hot;  they  drink  because  it  is  cold;  If  successful  in  elections,  they 
drink  and  rejoice;  if  not,  they  drink  and  swear; — they  begin  to  drink 
early  in  the  morning,  they  leave  oflTlate  at  night;  they  commence  it 
early  in  life,  and  tiiey  continue  it,  until  they  soon  drop  mto  the  grave. 
To  use  their  own  expression,  the  way  they  drink,  is  "quite  a 
caution."*  As  for  water,  what  the  man  said,  when  asked  to  be- 
long to  the  Temperance  Society,  appears  to  be  the  general  opinion, 
"  it's  very  good  for  navigation." 

So  much  has  it  become  the  habit  to  cement  all  friendship,  and 

*  It  was  not  a  bad  idea  of  a  man  who,.genera>]]y  speaking,  was  very 
bw-Bpirited,,on.  being  asked  th&  cause,, regliedvthat  he  did  not  knovr,, 


-    f  ; 


:J^ 


44 


MARRYAT  S   DfARV. 


m^ 


commence  acquaintance  by  drinking,  that  it  is  a  cause  of  serious  of- 
fenco  to  refuse, especially  in  a  foreigner,  as  the  Americans  like  to  call 
the  English.  I  was  always  willing  to  accommodate  the  Americans 
in  this  jyarticular,  as  tiir  as  I  could;  (there  at  least,  they  will  do  me 
justice;)  that  at  tunes  I  drank  much  more  than  I  wished  is  certain, 
yet  still  I  gave  mo^t  serious  offence,  especially  in  the  West,  be- 
cause I  would  not  drink  early  in  the  morning,  or  before  dinner, 
which  is  a  general  custom  in  the  States,  although  much  more  pre- 
valent in  the  South  and  West,  where  it  is  literally,  "Stranger, 
will  you  drink  or  fight  1"  This  refusal  on  my  part,  or  rather  ex- 
cusing myself  from  drinking  with  all  tjjose  who  were  introduced  to 
n»e,  was  eventually  the  occasion  of  much  disturbance  and  of  great 
animosity  towards  me — certainly,  most  unreasonably,  as  I  was  in- 
troduced to  at  least  twenty  every  forenoon  ;  and  had  I  drunk  with 
them  all,  I  should  have  been  in  the  same  state  as  many  of  them 
were — that  is,  not  really  sober  for  three  or  four  weeks  at  a  time. 

That  the  constitutions  of  the  Americans  must  suffer  from  this 
habit  is  certain  ;  they  do  not,  however,  appear  to  suffer  ^so  much 
as  we  should.  They  say  that  you  may  always  know  the  grave 
of  a  Virginian;  as  fnim  the  quantity  of  juleps  he  has  drunk,  mint 
invariably  springs  up  where  ho  has  been  buried.  Ijut  the  Vir- 
ginians are  not  the  greatest  drinkers,  by  any  means.  1  was  once 
looking  for  an  Aniorican,  and  asked  a  friend  of  his,  where  I  should 
find  i)im.  "  Why,"  replied  he,  poin'ing  to  an  hotel  opposite,  "  thai 
is  his  li('/ihii>-  place,  (a  term  borrowed  from  deer  roi^orling  to  lick 
the  salt:)  we  will  rcc  if  he  is  there."  lie  was  not;  the  bar-keep- 
er said  ho  Iind  Icfi  about  trn  minutes.  "  Well,  then,  you  had  bet- 
ter remain  hero,  ho  is  certain  to  be  bock  in  ten  more — if  not  sooner." 
The  American  judged  his  friend  rightly  ;  in  five  minutes  he  was 
back  again,  and  we  had  a  drink  together,  of  course. 

I  did  not  see  it  myseli",  but  I  was  told  that  somewhere  in  Mis- 
souri, or  thereabouts,  west  of  the  Mis-^sissippi,  all  the  bars  have  what 
they  term  a  kichiug-boanU  it  being  the  custom  with  the  people 
who  live  there,  instead  of  touching  glasses  when  they  drink  to- 
gether, to  kick  sharply  with  the  side  of  the  foot  against  the  board, 
and  that  after  this  coremony  you  are  sworn  friends.  I  have  had  it 
mentioned  to  me  by  more  than  one  person,  therefore  I  presume  it  is 
the  case.  What  the  origin  of  it  is  I  know  not,  unless  it  intends  to 
imply,  "I'm  your's  to  the  last  kick.''''* 

i3efore  I  finish  this  article  on  hotels,  I  may  as  well  observe  here 
that  there  is  a  custom  in  the  United  States,  which  I  consider  very 
demoralizing  to  the  women,  which  is  that  of  taking  up  permanent 
residence  in  large  hotels. 

but  he  thought  "that  he  had  been  born  with  three  drinlis  too  little  in 
hwn." 

*  In  a  chapter  which  follows  this,  I  have  said  that  the  women  of 
America  are  physically  superior  to  the  men.  This  may  appear  contra- 
dictory, as  of  course  they  could  not  be  born  so;  nor  are  they,  for  I  have 
often  remarked  how  very  fine  the  American  male  children  are,  especi- 
ally those  lads  who  have  grown  up  to  the  age  of  fourteen  or  sixteen. 
Que  could  hardly  belifve  it  possible  that  tt\e  men  are  the  same  youths^ 


There 
very  earl 
dant  exp( 
than  to  k 
taining  s( 
have  the 
cstablisht 
ciety,  arij 
ding  at  tl 
you  will 
that  the 
I  could  i 
blishment 
marked  ; 
who  are 
comments 

"The  I 
economy  c 
provided  t 
wondered 
tion  provic 
come  acqi: 
pose  his  d( 
saw  the  el 
mon  drawi 
house  afle 

"  I  have 
which  gen 
and  domes 
wives,  ami 
for  the  ge 
noisv  hous 
sence  of  a 
taste,  are  1 
and  cares  ( 
their  wivei 
refinement 
from  the  i 
keeping." 

advanced  ii 
pose  that  it 
thrown  ofl 
young  mer 
mulusof  dr 
I  Americans, 


serious  or- 
likctocall 
\mcricana 
^vill  du  inc 
is  certain, 
West,  be- 
>re  dinner, 
more  pre- 
Slranger, 
rather  ex- 
rod  uccd  to 
1  of  jjreat 
I  was  in- 
runk  witli 
y  of  tliern 
at  a  time, 
from  this 
'  ,so  much 
tlio  jirave 
link,  mint 
;  the  Vir- 
wiis  once 
e  I  should 
site,  "  that 
niT  to  lick 
bar- keep- 
had  bel- 
li sooner." 
s  he  was 

0  in  Mis- 
uvo  what 
10  people 
drink  to- 
le  board, 
ve  had  it 
;ume  it  is 
ntends  to 

rve  here 
ider  very 
irmanent 


>  Utile  in 

omen  of 
\r  contra- 
br  I  have 
?,  especi- 
[*  sixteen, 
le  youtb&<. 


MARRTAT^S  DIARY. 


45 


There  are  gcveral  reasons  for  this:  one  is,  that  people  marry  so 
very  early  that  they  cannot  afford  to  take  a  house  with  the  atten- 
dant expenses,  for  in  America  it  is  cheaper  to  live  in  a  large  hotel 
than  to  keep  a  house  of  your  own ;  another  is,  the  difficulty  of  ob- 
taininjr  servants,  and,  perhaps,  the  unwillinnrness  of  the  women  to 
have  the  fatigue  and  annoyance  which  is  really  occasioned  by  an 
establishment  in  that  country  :  added  to  which  is  the  want  of  so- 
ciety, arising  from  their  husbands  being  from  morning  to  night  plod- 
ding at  their  various  avocations.  At  some  of  the  principal  hotels 
you  will  find  the  apartments  of  the  lodgers  so  permanently  taken, 
that  the  plate  with  their  name  engraved  on  it  is  fixed  on  the  door. 
I  could  almost  tell  whether  a  lady  in  America  kept  her  own  esta- 
blishment or  lived  at  an  hotel,  the  difference  of  manners  was  so 
marked  ;  and,  what  is  worse,  it  is  chiefly  the  young  married  couples 
who  are  to  be  found  there.  jVIiss  Martineau  makes  some  very  just 
comments  upon  this  practice  : — 

•'  The  uncertainty  about  domestic  service  is  so  great,  and  the 
economy  of  boarding-house  life  so  tempting  to  people  w!io  have  not 
provided  themselves.with  house  and  furniture,  that  it  is  not  to  be 
wondered  at  that  many  young  married  people  use  the  accommoda- 
tion provided.  But  no  sensible  husband,  who  could  beforehand  be- 
come acquainted  with  the  liabilities  incurred,  would  willingly  ex- 
j  pose  his  domestic  peace  to  the  fearful  risk.  1  saw  enough  when  I 
"  saw  the  elegantly  dressed  ladies  repair  to  the  windows  of  the  com- 
mon drawing-room,  on  their  husbands'  departure  to  the  counting- 
house  afler  breakfast. 

*'  I  have  been  assured  that  there  is  no  end  to  the  difficulties  in 

which  gentlemen  have  been  involved,  both  as  to  their  commercial 

■  and  domestic  affairs,  by  the  indiscretion  of  their  thoughtless  young 

wives,  amidst  the  idleness  and  levities  of  boarding-house  life.     As 

for  the  gentlemen,  they  arc  much  to  be  pitied.     Public  meals,  a 

noisy  house,  confinement  to  one  or  two  private  rooms,  with  the  ab- 

\  sence  of  all  gratifications  of  their  own  peculiar  convenience  and 

taste,  are  but  a  poor  solace  to  the  man  of  business,  after  the  toils 

and  cares  of  the  day.    When  to  these  are  added  the  snares  to  which 

their  wives  are  exposed,  it  may  be  imagined  that  men  of  sense  and 

refinement  would  rather  bear  with  any  domestic  inconvenience 

from  the  uncertainty  and  bad  quality  of  help,  than  give  up  house- 

*  keeping." 

advanced  in  Vifb.    How  is  this  to  be  accounted  for?    I  can  only  sup- 
pose  that  it  is  fVom  their  plunging*  too  early  into  life  as  men,  having 
thrown  off  parental  control,  and  commencing  the  usual  excesses  of 
young  men  in  every  country  at  too  tender  an  age.    The  constant  sti- 
mulus of  drink  must,  of  course,  be  another  powerful  cause;  not  that  the 
Americans  often  become  intoxicated,  on  the  contrary,  you  will  see 
many  more  in  this  condition  every  day  in  this  country  than  you  will  in 
America.     But  occasional  intoxication  is  not  so  injurious  to  the  consti- 
tution as  that  continual  application  of  spirits,  which  must  enfeeble  the 
,  stomach,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  tobacco,  destroy  its  energies.  The 
I  Americans  are  a  drinking  but  not  a  drunken  nation,  and,  as  I  have  be- 
jfcse  observed,  the  climate  operates  upon  tliemvety  powerfully. 


Ml 


it, 


i 


f 

u 

ti'J 


t  ■ 

f 

'i  ^    'I 


wi 


'I!   I 


46 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


1 


tv, 


;'.■,  -  J 


i<i'  '' 


i«i  1': 


J" 


If  such  is  the  case  in  boardings  liousos,  what  must  it  be  in  hotels, 
where  the  male  company  is  ever  changinnr.  It  is  one  constant  lile 
of  scandal,  flirting',  eating,  drinkinnr,  and  living  in  public;  the  senae 
of  delicacy  is  destroyed,  and  the  women  remind  you  of  the  flowers 
that  have  been  breathed  upon  till  they  have  lost  their  perfume. 

Miss  M.  observes  : — 

"I  can  only  say,  that  I  unavoidably  knew  of  more  cases  of  lapse 
in  highly  respectable  families  in  one  State  than  ever  came  to  my 
knowledge  at  home;  and  that  they  were  got  over  with  a  disgrace 
far  more  temporary  and  superficial  than  they  could  have  been  visi- 
ted with  in  Knglond." 

If  this  observation  is  correct,  it  must,  in  my  opinion,  be  consider- 
ed as  referring  to  that  portion  of  the  sex  who  live  in  holelSf  cer- 
tainly not  to  the  mass,  for  reasons  which  I  shall  hereafter  point 
out. 

Indeed,  what  I  have  seen  at  pome  of  the  large  hotels  fully  bears 
out  her  assertion.  Miii^s  M.  talks  of  young  ladies  being  token  to 
the  piano  in  a  promiscuous  company.  I  have  seen  them  go  to  the 
piano  without  being  taken  there,  sit  down  and  sing  with  all  the 
energy  of  peacocks,  before  total  strangers,  and  very  often  without 
accompaniment.  In  the  hotels,  the  private  apartments  of  the 
boarders  seldom  consivSt  of  more  than  a  large  bed-room,  and  although 
company  are  admitted  into  it,  still  it  is  natural  that  the  major  por- 
tion of  the  women's  time  should  be  passed  down  below  in  the  ge- 
neral receiving  room.  In  the  evening,  especially  in  the  large 
western  cities,  they  have  balls  almost  every  night;  indeed  it  is  a 
life  01  idleness  and  vacuity  of  outward  pretence,  but  of  no  real  good 
feeling. 

Scandal  rages — every  one  is  busy  with  watching  her  neighbour's 
affairs ;  those  who  have  boarded  there  longest  take  the  lead,  and 
every  new  comer  or  stranger  is  canvassed  with  the  most  severe 
scrutiny ;  their  histories  are  ascertained,  and  they  are  very  often 
cent  to  Coventry,  for  little  better  reason  tlian  the  will  of  those  who, 
as  residents,  lay  down  the  law. 

Indeed,  I  never  witnessed  a  more  ridiculous  compound  of  pre- 
tended modesty,  and  real  want  of  delicacy,  than  is  to  be  found  with 
this  class  of  sojourners  on  the  highway.  Should  any  of  their  own 
sex  arrive,  of  whom  some  little  scandal  has  been  afloat,  they  are  up 
in  arms  and  down  they  plump  in  their  rocking-chairs;  and  although 
the  hotel  may  cover  nearly  an  acre  of  ground,  so  afraid  are  they  of 
contamination,  that  they  declare  they  will  not  go  down  to  dinner, 
or  eat  another  meal  in  the  hotel,  until  the  obnoxious  parties  "clear 
out."  The  proprietors  are  summoned,  husbands  are  bullied,  and, 
rather  than  indignant  virtue  should  starve  in  her  rocking-chair,  a 
committee  is  formed,  and  the  libelled  parties,  guilty  or  not  guilty, 
ore  requested  to  leave  the  hotel.  As  soon  as  this  purification  is  an- 
nounced, virtue,  appeased,  recovers  her  appetite,  and  they  all  eat 
drink,  talk  scandal,  flirt,  and  sing  without  invitation  as  before. 

I  have  been  severe  upon  this  class  of  society  in  America,  not  only 
because  I  consider  that  it  deserves  it,  but  because  I  wish  to  point 
out  that  Miss  Martineau^s  observations  must  be  considered  as  re- 
ferring to  it,  and  not  to  the  general  character  of  the  American  womeok 


In  this 
United  S 
colony, 
and  must 

What 
United 
solves  ca 
nadag. 
Cicrman ; 
land,  and 
to  the  Ui 

It  ougl 
found  the 
foctcd  an 
stitulions 
like  and 
dercd  at; 
mostly  di 
tunes,  oft 
tlie  true  c 
they  liav( 
bcrty  and 
that  thoy 
turn  to  tl 
behind, 
they  becc 
fool  the  c 

I  have 
United  S 
not  confe 
of  this  is 
irig  they 
cipled,  pi 
contact. 

*  I  wo 
with  the 
ffoguc,  w 
"  Captair 
tion  of  d( 
are  a  pac 
Americai 
not  suffic 
it."_u  Y 
right" 


marryat'8  diary. 


47 


I  *  V. 


ic  in  hotels, 
;on8tant  life 
; ;  the  senile 
the  flowers 
Qrt'ume. 

8CS  of  lapse 
came  to  my 
I  a  djpfjfrace 
e  been  visi- 

)e  considcr- 
hotds,  cer- 
eal'ler  point 

fully  bears 
ig  lakcn  to 
in  go  to  the 
/ith  all  the 
ten  without 
;nt8  of  the 
id  although 

major  por- 
f  in  the  ge- 
1  the  large 
(deed  it  is  a 
o  real  good 

eighbour's 

lead,  and 

lost  severe 

very  often 

those  who, 

md  of  pre- 
bund  with 

their  own 
hey  are  up 
d  although 
are  they  of 

to  dinner, 
ties  "clear 
Lillied,  and, 
ng-chair,  a 
not  guilty, 
ition  is  an- 
ley  all  eat 
efore. 
a,  not  only 
sh  to  point 
jred  as  re- 
an  womeik 


CHAPTER  V. 
EMIGRATION  AND  MIGRATION. 

In  this  chapter  I  shall  confine  myself  to  the  omigrntion  to  tlio 
United  States,  reserving  that  to  Canada  until  I  remark  upon  that 
colony.  In  discussing  this  (lucstion  I  have  no  statistics  to  refer  to, 
and  must,  therefore,  confine  myself  to  general  observations. 

What  the  amount  of  emigration  from  the  Old  Continent  to  Uio 
United  States  may  be  at  present  I  tlo  not  think  the  Atnericans  Ihem- 
fiolves  can  tell,  as  many  who  arrive  at  New  York  go  on  to  the  Ca- 
nadas.  The  emigrants  arc,  however,  principally  English,  Irish,  and 
Cicrman  ;  latterly,  the  emigration  to  New  South  Wales,  Now  Zea- 
land, and  particularly  Texas,  has  reduced  the  inllux  of  emigrants 
to  the  United  Slates. 

It  ought  to  be  pointed  out,  that  among  the  emigrants  arc  to  bo 
found  the  portion  of  the  people  in  the  United  States  the  most  disat- 
focted  and  the  most  violent  against  England  and  itsmonarchic.il  in- 
stitutions; and  who  as-sist  very  much  to  keep  up  the  feelings  of  dis- 
like and  ill-will  which  exist  towards  us.  Nor  is  this  to  be  won- 
dered at;  the  linppy  and  the  wealthy  do  not  go  into  exile;  they  are 
mostly  disap|)ointe(l  and  unhappy  men,  who  attribute  their  misfor- 
tunes, otlen  occasioned  by  their  own  imprudence,  to  any  cause  but 
the  true  one,  and  hate  their  own  country  and  its  in.stitutions  because 
they  have  been  unfortunate  in  it.  They  form  Utopian  ideas  of  li- 
berty and  prosperity  to  bo  obtained  by  emigration;  they  discover 
that  they  have  been  deceived,  and  would  willingly,  if  possible,  re- 
turn to  the  country  they  have  abjured,  and  the  friends  they  have  left 
behind.  This  produces  an  increase  of  irritation  and  ill-will,  and 
they  become  the  more  violent  vituperative  in  proportion  as  they 
feel  the  change."" 

I  have  had  many  conversations  with  English  emigrants  in  the 
United  States,  and  I  never  yet  found  one  at  all  respectable,  who  did 
not  confess  to  me  that  he  repented  of  emigration.  One  great  cause 
of  this  is  honourable  to  them;  they  feel  that  in  common  plain-deal- 
ing they  are  no  match  for  the  keen-witted,  and  I  must  add  unprin- 
cipled, portion  of  the  population  with  which  they  are  thrown  in 
contact.     They  must  either  sacrifice  their  principle  or  not  succeed. 

*  I  was  once  conversing  with  one  who  was  fiM'nicrly  very  popular 
with  the  dcmoorats,  but  who  was  likely  to  be  outset  by  anotiicr  dema- 
gogue, who  "  went  the  whole  hog,"  down  to  the  Agrarian  system. 
"Captain,"  said  he,  witli  his  fist  clenched,  "  I'm  the  very  personifica- 
tion of  democracy,  but  I'm  out-Herodcd  by  this  fellow.  The  emigrants 
are  a  pack  of  visionaries,  who  don't  know  what  they  want.  The  born 
Americans  I  can  deal  with,  but  witli  these  new  comers  democracy  is 
not  sufficient;  they  want  a  mobocracy,  and  I  suppose  we  must  have 
it."— "You  have  it  now,"  replied  I. — "Well,  captain,  I  believe  you're 
right." 


48 


■ARRYAT^S  DIARY. 


* 


1' 


Nit    y 

■A- 

1  i 
1 , 

Many  have  used  the  samo  expression  to  mo.  "It  is  no  u^e,  sir, 
you  must  cither  turn  regular  Yankee  and  do  as  they  do,  or  yuu  have 
no  chance  offsetting  on  in  this  country." 

These  people  are  much  to  bo  pitied ;  I  used  to  listen  to  them  with 
feelings  of  deep  compassion.  Having  torn  thcnisclvos  away  from 
old  ascjooiatioiis,  and  broken  the  links  which  should  have  bound  tlicoi 
to  their  native  soil,  with  the  expectation  of  finding  librirty,  cciuali- 
ty,  and  competence  in  a  new  country,  they  have  discovered  when 
too  late  that  they  have  not  a  fraction  of  the  liberty  which  is  en- 
joyed in  the  country  which  they  have  left;  that  they  have  severed 
themselves  from  their  friends  to  live  amongst  those  with  whom  tliey 
do  not  like  to  agaociate;  that  they  must  now  labour  with  tiicir  own 
hand.s  instead  of  employing  others;  and  tiiat  the  comptitoiico  they 
expected,  if  it  is  to  be  obtained,  must  bo  so  by  a  sncnlice  of  those 
principles  of  honesty  and  fair-dealing  imbibed  in  their  youth,  ad- 
hered to  in  their  manhood,  but  which  now  that  they  have  trans- 
planted themselves,  are  gradually,  although  unwillingly,  yielded  up 
to  the  circumstances  t)f  llieir  position. 

I  was  once  conversing  with  an  Irishman ;  he  was  not  very  well 
pleased  with  his  change;  I  laughed  r.t  him,  and  said,  "  IJiit  here 
you  arc  free,  Paddy." — "Free!"  replied  lie,  "and  pray  who  the 
devil  was  to  buy  or  sell  me  when  I  was  in  Ireland  .'  Free!  uch ! 
that's  all  talk;  you're  free  to  work  ns  hard  as  a  lior=c,  and  get  but 
little  for  so  doing." 

The  (ierman  emigrants  are  by  far  the  nost  contented  and  well- 
behaved.  They  trouble  themselves  less  about  politics,  associate 
with  one  another  as  much  as  possible,  and  when  they  take  a  farm, 
always,  if  they  possibly  can,  get  it  in  the  neighbourliood  of  their 
own  countrymen. 

The  emigrants  most  troublesome,  but,  at  the  same  time,  the  most 
valuable  to  tlio  United  States,  are  the  Irish.  Without  this  class  of 
people  the  Americans  wou'd  not  have  been  able  to  complete  tlie 
canals  and  rail-roads,  and  many  other  important  works.  Tliey  are, 
in  fact,  the  principal  labourers  of  the  country,  tor  the  poor  Germans 
who  come  out  prefer  being  employed  in  any  other  way  than  in  agricul- 
ture, until  they  amass  sufficient  to  obtain  farms  of  their  own.  As 
for  the  Irish,  there  are  not  many  of  them  who  possess  land  in  the 
United  Stales,  the  major  portion  of  them  remain  labourt  rs,  and  die 
very  little  better  off  than  when  they  went  out.  Some  v)f  them  set 
up  groceries  (these  are  the  most  calculating  and  intelligent,)  and 
by  allowing  their  countrymen  to  run  in  debt  for  liquor,  &c.  they 
obtain  control  over  them,  and  make  contracts  with  the  government 
agents,  or  other  speculators  (very  advantageous  to  themselves,)  to 
supply  so  many  men  for  public  works;  by  these  means  a  tew  ac- 
quire a  great  deal  of  money,  while  the  many  remain  in  compara- 
tive indigence. 

We  have  been  accustomed  to  ascribe  the  turbulence  of  the  Irish 
lower  classes  to  ill-treatment  and  a  sense  of  their  wrongs,  but  this 
disposition  appears  to  follow  them  every  where.  It  would  be  sup- 
posed that,  having  emigrated  to  America  and  ol  tained  the  rights 
of  citizens,  they  would  have  amalgamated  and  fraternized  to  a  cer- 
tain degree  with  the  people:  but  such  is  not  the  case;  they  hold 


'thomscl^ 

in  the  m 

and  citHti 

of  the  Ui 

fact  is,  ll 

himself 

leaders  ii 

ful  as  a  p 

(if  I  rec 

their  viol 

farther,  b 

force,  by 

one  ward 

election  I 

An  An 

United  S 

The  Nev 

York  elec 

oflen  can 

ence  upor 

New  Yor 

The  Iri 

— they  be 

money. 

put  in  the 

names. 

A  capta 
relative  to 
are  more  ( 
nesty. 

He  con? 
if  they  wc 
that  they  I 
to  produce 
fight  their 
clared  thai 
seized  his 
The  Irishr 
sumed,  thi 
captain  jei 
boat,"  cri( 
All  my  mc 
fore  it  san 
up  in  it,  u 
captain  na 
about  one 
ment,  com 
bludgeons; 
prepared  i 

•  Idon'i 
caaelteti<N 


MARRYAT  «  DIARY. 


49 


10  UjiO,  sir, 
r  you  liavo 

Ihctn  vvilli 
away  from 
loiuul  tlicm 
•ty,  C(iu:i.i- 
crcd  when 
hicli  13  cn- 
vc  severed 
^vliorn  they 
1  tiicir  own 
tonco  they 
ce  of  tlioso 
youth,  ad- 
lave  trans- 
yielded  up 

r  very  well 
''  But  here 
ly  w!io  the 
[■'roe  1  och  ! 
iid  <ret  but 

I  and  wel'- 
f,  tissociatc 
lUo  a  farm, 
od  of  their 

',  the  most 
lis  class  of 
nplcto  the 
'J'hoy  are, 
r  (ierinans 
ina^ricul- 
dwu.     As 

nd  in  the 
rs,  and  die 

them  set 
gent,)  and 
,  &c.  they 
)vernment 
selves,)  to 
a  tew  ac- 

compara- 

'  the  Irish 
,  but  this 
id  be  sup- 
Ihe  rights 
*  to  a  cer- 
they  hold 


'thcmscUes  completely  apart  and  distinct,  livincf  with  their  families 
in  the  same  (juartcr  of  the  city,  and  adherm;;  to  their  own  inanncra 
and  cuHtom.H.  Thoy  are  Just  as  little  pleased  with  the  institutions 
of  the  rjnitcd  States  as  they  are  with  the  {»overnment  at  home;  the 
tact  is,  that  they  would  prefer  no  fjovcrnmcnt  at  all,  if  (as  l*addy 
himself  would  say)  they  knew  where  to  find  it.  They  are  the 
?  leaders  in  all  the  political  rows  and  commotions,  and  very  powcr- 
H  ful  as  a  party  in  all  elections,  not  only  on  account  of  their  numbcra 
(if  I  recollect  ritjhtly,  they  muster  4(),(KH)  at  New  Vork,)  hut  by 
their  violence  preventinjr  other  people  from  coming  to  the  poll ;  and, 
farther,  by  multiplying  themselves,  so  as  greatly  to  increase  their 
force,  by  voting  several  times  over,  whicli  they  do  by  going  from 
one  ward  to  another.  I  was  told  by  one  of  them  that,  on  the  last 
election  he  had  voted  seven  times.* 

An  American  once  said  to  me  that  the  lower  Irish  ruled  the 
United  States,  and  he  attempted  to  prove  his  assertion  as  follows: 
The  New  York  election  is  carried  by  the  Irish ;  now  the  New 
York  election  has  great  influence  upon  the  other  elections,  and 
otlen  carries  the  State.  The  State  of  New  York  has  great  influ- 
ence up(m  the  elections  of  other  Statcp,  and  therefore  the  Irish  of 
New  York  govern  the  country. — Q.  E.  1). 

The  Irish,  in  one  point,  appear  to  improve  in  the  United  States 

— they  become  much  more  provident,  and  many  of  them  hoard  their 

■   money.     They  put  it  into  the  Savings  Banks,  and  when  they  have 

y  put  in  the  sum  allowed  by  law  to  one  person,  they  deposite  in  other 

names. 

A  captain  of  one  of  the  steam-boats  told  me  an  anecdote  or  two 
relative  to  the  Irish  emigrants,  by  which  it  would  appear  that  they 
are  more  saving  of  their  money  than  is  quite  consistent  with  tio- 
nesty. 

He  constantly  received  them  on  board,  and  said  that  sometimes, 
if  they  were  very  few,  they  would  declare  at  the  end  of  the  trip 
that  they  had  no  money,  although  when  detained  they  never  failed 
to  produce  it;  if  they  were  very  numerous  they  would  attempt  to 
tight  their  way  without  paying.    In  one  instance,  an  Irishman  de- 
clared that  he  had  no  money,  when  the  captain,  to  punish  him. 
seized  his  old  jacket,  and  insisted  upon  retaining  it  tor  payment. 
The  Irishman  suffered  it  to  be  taken  olf,  expecting,  it  is  to  be  pre- 
sumed, that  it  would  be  returned  to  him  as  valueless,  when  the 
captain  jerked  it  overboard.    "  Oh !  murder ! — captain,  drop  th» 
boat,"  cried  Paddy;  "pick  my  jacket  up,  or  I'm  a  ruined  man. 
All  my  money's  in  it"    The  jacket  was  fortunately  picked  up  be-> 
fore  it  sank,  and,  on  ripping  it  up,  it  was  found  to  contain,  sewedi 
up  in  it,  upwards  of  fitly  sovereigns  and  gold  eagles.    The  same 
captain  narrated  to  me  the  particulars  of  one  instance  in  which 
^  about  one  hundred  Irish  were  on  board,  who  when  asked  for  pay- 
^  ment,  commenced  an  attack  upon  the  captain  and  crew  with<  their 
bludgeons;  but,  having  before  experienced  such  attempts,  he  was 
prepared  for  them,  and  receiving  assistance  from  the  thote^  the 

*  I  donH  know  why,  but  there  b  no  scrutiny  of  th^iwtes  in  Ameri- 
can elections,  or  if  there  be,  I  never  heard  of  one  bejor  made.. 
5 


*    ul 


ii 


!  - 


■  f 


¥'■'  I 


ii  111 


50 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


Irishmen  were  worsted,  and  then  every  man  paid  his  fare.  Th6 
truth  is  that  they  are  very  turbulent,  and  the  lower  orders  of  the 
Americans  are  very  much  enraged  against  them.  On  the  4th  of 
July  there  were  several  bodies  of  Americans,  who  were  out  on  the 
look'Out  for  the  Irish,  atler  dark,  and  many  of  the  latter  were  severe- 
ly beaten,  if  not  murdered ;  the  Irish,  however,  have  to  thank  them* 
selves  for  it. 

The  spirit  of  the  institutions  of  the  States  is  so  opposed  to  ser- 
vitude, that  it  is  chiefly  from  the  emigrants  that  the  Americans 
obtain  their  supply  of  domestics;  the  men  servants  in  the  private 
houses  may  be  said  to  be,  with  few  exceptions,  either  emigrants  of 
free  people  of  colour.    Amongst  other  points  upon  which  the  Ame- 
ricans are  to  be  pitied,  and  for  which  the  most  perfect  of  theoreti- 
cal governments  could  never  compensate,  is  the  misery  and  annoy-* 
ance  to  which  they  ere  exposed  from  their  domestics.    They  are 
absolutely  slaves  to  them,  especially  in  the  western  free  States; 
there  are  no  regulations  to  control  them.    At  any  fancied  affront 
they  leave  the  house  without  a  moment's  warning,  putting  on  their 
hats  or  bonnets,  and  walking  out  of  the  street-door,  leaving  their 
masters  and  mistresses  to  get  on  how  they  can.    I  remember  when 
I  was  staying  with  a  gentleman  in  the  west,  that,  on  the  first  day 
of  my  arrival,  he  apologized  to  me  for  not  having  a  man  servant, 
the  lellow  having  then  been  drunk  for  a  week  ;  a  woman  had  been 
hired  to  help  for  a  portion  of  the  day,  but  most  of  the  iaoour  fell 
upon  his  wife,  whom  I  found  one  morning  cleaning  my  room. 
The  fellow  remained  ten  days  drunk,  and  then  (all  his  money  be- 
ing spent)  sent  to  his  master  to  say  that  he  would  come  back  on 
condition  that  he  would  give  him  a  lirtle  more  liquor.    To  this 
proposition  the  gentleman  was  compelled  to  assent,  and  the  man 
returned  as  if  he  had  conferred  a  favour.    The  next  day,  at  dinner^ 
there  being  no  porter  up,  the  lady  said  to  her  husband,  "  Don't 
send  ■ '  "  ■  for  it,  but  go  yourself,  my  dear;  lie   is  so  very  cross 
again  that  I  fear  he  will  leave  the  house."     A  lady  of  my  acquaint- 
ance in  New  York  told  her  coachman  that  she  should  give  him 
warning;  the  reply  from  the  box  was — '♦  I  reckon  I  have  been  too 
long  in  the  woods  to  be  scared  with  an  owl."    Had  she  noticed 
this  insolence,  he  would  probably  have  got  down  from  the  box,  and 
have  left  her  to  drive  her  own  cattle.    The  coloured  servants  are, 
generally  speaking,  the  most  civil;  after  thern  the  Germans;  the 
Irish  and  English  arc  very  bad.     At  the  hotels,  &c.  you  very  often 
find  Annericans  in  subordinate  situations,  and  it  is  remarkable  that 
when  they  are  so,  they  are  much  more  civil  than  the  imported 
servants.     Few  of  the  American  servants,  even  in  the  large  cities, 
understeiifi  their  business,  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  few  of 
them  have  ever  learnt  it,  and,  moreover,  tljey  are  expected  to  do 
three  times  as  mivcb  as  a  servant  would  do  in  an  English  house. 
The  American  ihouses  are  much  too  large  ^)r  the  nutWber  of  ser- 
vant s.Cimployed)  iwhich  is  aQotlier  cau«e  for  service*  bciiig' so  much 

It  ts,tMii|;uiar  that  I  have  not  found  in  any  one  book,  written  by 
English,  French,  or  German  travellers,  any  remarks  made  upon  a 
cust;^  \vh]ic^iibe:kAnNeNCliA8rl)ave  offlhnoatfCiDtirdyrlieviiii^'  I  roaf 
£ay,  in  the  ^MKmcoA  of niheiri houses^  r«niI.-wbich'^T0QcMn»n«d4^ 


=3 


MARRYAT^S  DIART. 


51 


their  difficulties  in  housekeeping  with  their  insufficient  domestic 
establishments.  I  say  custom  nf  the  Americans,  as  it  is  the  case 
in  nine  houses  out  of  ten;  only  the  more  wealthy  travelled,  and 
refined  portion  of  the  community  in  their  cities  deviating  from  the 
general  practice. 

I  have  before  observed  that,  from  the  wish  of  display,  the  Ame- 
rican houses  are  generally  speaking,  too  larjre  for  the  proprietors 
and  for  the  domestics  which  are  employed.  Vying  with  each  other 
in  appearance,  their  recei""j;i;  ''~)ms  are  splendidly  furnished,  but 
they  do  not  live  in  them. 

The  basement  in  the  front  area,  which  with  us  is  usually  appro- 
priated to  the  housekeeper'g-room  and  offices,  is  in  most  of  their 
houses  fitted  up  as  a  dining-room;  by  no  means  a  bad  plan,  as  it  is 
cool  in  summer,  warm  in  winter,  and  saves  much  trouble  to  the 
servants.  The  dinner  is  served  up  in  it,  direct  from  the  kitchen, 
with  which  it  communicates.  The  master  of  the  house,  unless  he 
dines  late,  which  is  seldom  the  case  in  American  cities,  does  not 
oflen  come  home  to  dinner,  and  the  preparations  for  the  family  are  of 
course  not  very  troublesome.  But  although  they  go  on  very  well 
in  their  daily  routine,  to  give  a  dinner  is  to  the  majority  of  the 
Americans  really  an  effort,  not  from  the  disinclination  to  give  one, 
but  from  the  indifference  and  ignorance  of  the  servants ;  and  they 
may  be  excused  without  being  taxed  with  want  of  hospitality.  It 
is  a  very  common  custom,  therefore,  for  the  Americans  to  invite 
you  to  come  and  *'  take  wine  "  with  them,  that  is  to  come  afler  din- 
ner, when  you  will  find  cakes,  ices,  wine,  and  company,  already 
prepared.  But  there  is  something  unpleasant  in  this  arrangement; 
it  is  too  much  like  the  bar  of  the  tavern  in  the  west,  with — "  Stran- 
ger, will  you  drink  1"  It  must,  however,  be  recollected  that  there 
are  many  exceptions  to  what  I  have  above  stated  as  the  general 
practice.  There  are  houses  in  the  principal  cities  of  the  States 
where  you  will  sit  down  to  as  well-arranged  and  elegant  a  dinner 
as  you  will  find  in  the  best  circles  of  London  and  Paris;  but  the 
proprietors  are  men  of  wealth,  who  have  in  all  probability  been  on 
the  old  continent,  and  have  imbibed  a  taste  for  luxury  and  refine- 
ment generally  unknown  and  unfelt  in  the  new  hemisphere. 

I  once  had  an  instance  of  what  has  been  repeatedly  observed  by 
other  travellers  of  the  dislike  to  be  considered  as  servants  in  this 
land  of  equality. 

I  was  on  board  of  a  steam-boat  from  Detroit  to  Buffalo,  and  en- 
tered into  conversation  with  a  young  woman  who  was  leaning  over 
the  taffrail.    She  had  been  in  service,  and  was  returning  home. 

"You  say  you  lived  with  Mr.  VV." 

♦'No,  I  didn't,"  replied  she,  rather  tartly;  "I  said  I  lived  witli 
Mrs.  W." 

*'  Oh  !  I  understand.    In  what  situation  did  you  live  1" 

"I  lived  in  the  house." 

"Of  course  you  did,  but  what  asl" 

"  What  as]     As  a  gal  should  live.'* 

"I  mean  what  did  you  do?" 

"  F  helped  Mrs.  VV." 

"And  now  you  are  tired  of  helping  others  T" 

"  Guess  I  am." 


52 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


n 


••Who  is  your  father]" 

"  He's  a  doctor." 

"A  doctor  1  and  he  allows  you  to  go  out?" 

"He  said  I  might  please  myself." 

"  Will  he  be  pleased  at  your  coming  home  again  1" 

"  I  went  out  to  please  myself,  and  I  come  home  to  please  nr.yself. 
Cost  him  nothing  fur  four  months;  that's  more  tlian  all  gals  can  say. 

*'  And  now  you're  going  home  to  spend  your  money  ]" 

"  Don't  want  to  go  home  for  that,  it's  all  gone." 

I  have  been  much  amused  with  the  awkwardness  and  noncha- 
lant manners  of  the  servants  in  America.  Two  American  ladies 
who  had  just  returned  from  Europe,  told  me  that  shortly  after  their 
arrival  at  Boston,  a  young  man  had  been  sent  to  them  from  Vermont 
to  do  the  duty  of  footman.  He  had  been  a  day  or  two  in  the  house, 
when  they  rang  the  bell  and  ordered  him  to  bring  up  two  glasses 
of  lemonade.  He  made  his  appearance  with  the  lemonade,  which 
had  been  prepared  and  given  to  him  on  a  tray  by  a  female  servant, 
but  the  ladies,  who  were  sitting  one  at  each  end  of  a  sofa  and  con- 
versing,  not  being  ready  for  it  just  then,  said  to  him — "We'll  take 
it  presently,  John." — "Guess  I  can  wait,"  replied  the  man,  delibe- 
rately taking  liis  seat  on  the  sofa  between  them,  and  placing  the 
tray  on  his  knees. 

When  I  was  at  Tremont  House,  I  was  very  intimate  with  a  fa- 
mily who  were  staying  there.  One  morning  we  had  been  pasting 
something,  and  the  bell  was  rung  by  one  of  the  daughters,  a  very 
fair  girl  with  flaxen  hair,  who  wanted  some  water  to  wash  her 
hands.  An  Irish  waiter  answered  the  bell.  "  Did  you  ring,  ma'am  1" 
— "  Yes,  Peter,  I  want  a  little  warm  water."  "Is  it  to  shave  with, 
miss]"  inquired  Paddy,  very  gravely. 

But  the  emigration  from  the  old  continent  is  of  little  importance 
compared  to  the  migration  which  takes  place  in  the  country  itself 

As  I  have  before  observed,  all  America  is  working  west.  In  the 
north,  the  emigration  by  the  lakes  is  calculated  at  100,000  per  an- 
num, of  which  about  30,000,  are  foreigners;  the  others  are  the  na- 
tives of  New  England  and  tlie  other  eastern  States,  who  are  ex- 
changing from  a  sterile  soil  to  ono  "flowing  with  milk  and  honey." 
But  those  who  migrate  are  not  all  of  them  agriculturalists;  *he 
western  States  are  supplied  from  the  north-eastern  with  their  mer- 
chants, doctors,  schoolmasters,  lawyers,  and,  I  may  add,  with  their 
members  of  congress,  senators,  and  governors.  New  England  is  a 
school^  a  sort  of  manufactory  of  various  professions,  fitted  tor  all  pur- 
)K)ses — a  talent  bazaar,  where  you  have  every  thing  at  choice;  in 
fact,  what  Mr.  Tocquevillo  says  is  very  true,  and  the  Stales  fully 
deserve  the  compliment : — 

"  The  civilization  of  New  England  has  been  like  a  beacon  lit 
upon  a  hill,  which,  after  it  has  difliised  its  warmth  around,  tinges 
the  distant  horizon  with  its  glory." 

From  the  great  extent  of  this  emigration  to  the  west,  it  is  said 
that  the  female  population  in  the  New  England  states  is  greater 
than  the  male.  In  the  last  returns  of  Massachusetts  the  total  popu- 
lation was  given,  but  males  and  females  were  not  given  separately, 
an  omission  which  induces  one  to  believe  that  such  was  the  truth."^ 


«  it 


The  young  men  of  New  England  migrate  in  large  numbers  to 


But  it 

place ; 

specula 

nesa  of 

tied  in 

States, 

suppose 

since  th 

takes  pi 

while 

of  black 

the  mas 

As  tl 

Mississi 

and  unc 

and  that 

80  long ' 

nies,  rer 

derness 

ritance. 

Here 

my  opini 

Soutberr 

that  whi 

much  ini 

their  bat 

and  whic 

eion  of  tl; 

TheS 

of  slaver 

fore:  but 

become, 

control  tl 

are  fast  v 

first  mari 

ihe  Quee 

will  com 

must  be  c 

Western 

This  may 

sidcred  b; 

that  ten  ) 

pros  per  it) 

may  soon 

States  wi 

the  populi 

are  draini 

increase  i 

tixc  west,  1 
of  which  I 
credible  th 
than  men  i 


marryat^s  diary. 


5a 


ease  ir.yself. 
?als  can  say. 

and  noncha- 
;rican  ladies 
y  after  their 
Qm  Vermont 
n  the  house, 
two  glasses 
nade,  which 
lale  servant, 
ofa  and  con- 
'  We'll  take 
man,  delibe- 
placing  the 

e  with  a  fa- 
leen  pasting 
ters,  a  very 
0  wash  her 
ig,  ma'am  1" 
shave  with, 

importance 
untry  itself, 
est.    In  the 

000  per  an- 
are  the  na- 

Nho  are  ex- 
and  honey." 
ralists;  *he 

1  their  mer- 
with  their 

Ingland  is  a 
for  all  pur- 
choice;  in 

States  fully 

beacon  lit 
und,  tinges 

it,  it  is  said 

is  greater 

total  popu- 

separately, 

the  truth.* 

numbers  to 


t 


But  it  is  not  only  from  the  above  States  that  the  migration  takes 
place;  the  fondness  for  ** shifting  right  away,"  the  eagerness  for 
speculation,  and  the  by  no  means  exaggerated  reports  of  the  rich- 
ness of  the  western  country,  induce  many  who  are  really  well  set- 
tled in  the  States  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  other  fertilo 
States,  to  sell  all  and  turn  to  the  west.  The  State  of  Ohio  alone  is 
supposed  to  have  added  many  more  than  a  million  to  her  population 
since  the  last  census.  An  extensive  migration  of  white  population 
takes  place  from  North  and  South  Carolina  and  the  adjacent  States, 
while  fiom  the  eastern  Slave  States,  there  is  one  continual  stream 
of  black  population  pouring  in,  frequently  the  cavalcade  headed  by 
the  masters  of  their  families. 

As  the  numerous  tributary  streams  pour  their  watery  into  the 
Mississippi,  so  do  rivers  of  men  from  every  direction  continually 
and  unceasingly  How  into  the  west.  It  is  indeed  the  promised  land, 
and  that  the  whites  should  have  been  detainf'd  in  the  eastern  States 
so  long  without  a  knowledge  of  the  fertile  soil  beyond  the  AUegha- 
nies,  reminds  you  of  the  tarrying  of  the  Jewish  nation  in  the  wil- 
derness before  they  were  permitted  to  take  possession  of  their  inhe- 
ritance. 

Here  there  is  matter  for  deep  reflection.  I  have  already  given 
my  opinion  upon  the  chances  of  the  sepantion  of  the  northern  and 
Soutbern.States  upon  the  question  of  slavery;  but  it  appears  to  me, 
that  while  the  eyes  of  their  legislators  have  been  directn.!  with  so 
much  interest  to  the  prospects  arising  from  the  above  question,  that 
their  backs  have  been  turned  to  a  danger  much  more  imminent,, 
and  which  may  bo  attended  by  no  less  consequences  than  a  convul- 
sion of  the  whole  Union. 

The  Soutiiern  and  Northern  States  may  separate  on  the  question 
of  slavery,  and  yet  be  in  reality  better  friends  than  ihey  were  be- 
fore :  but  what  will  be  the  consequence,  when  the  Western  States 
become,  as  they  assuredly  will,  so  populous  and  pov/erful,  as  to 
control  the  Union;  for  not  only  population,  but  power  and  wealth,, 
are  fust  working  their  way  to  the  west.    New  Orleans  will  be  the 
first  maritime  port  in  the  universe,  and  Cincinnati  will  not  only  bo 
the  Queen  of  the  West,  but  Queen  of  the  Western  World.    Then 
will  come  the  real  clashing  of  interests,  and  the  Eastern  States 
must  be  content  to  succumb  and  resign  their  present  power,  or  tl»e 
Western  will  throw  thenn  off,  as  an  useless  appendage  to  her  might. 
This  may  at  present  appear  chimerical  to  some,  and  would  be  con- 
sidered by  many  others  as  too  far  distant;  but  be  it  remembered, 
that  ten  years  in  America,  is  as  a  century;  and  even  allowing  the 
prosperity  of  the  United  States  to  be  checked,  as  very  probably  it 
may  soon  be,  by  any  quarrel  with  a  foreign  nation,  the  Western 
Slates  will  not  be  those  who  will  suffer.    Far  remavcd  from  strife, 
the  population  hardly  interfered  with,  when  the  Eastern  resources 
are  draining,  Mey  will  continue  to  advance  in  population,  and  to 
increase  in  wealth.    I  refer  not  to  the  Slave  States  bordering  oa 

tlie  west,  leaving  an  over  proportion  of  female  population, .  the  amount 
of  which  I  ne\^cr  cculd  learn.  Statements  were  made  to  me,  but  so  iur 
credible  that  I  withhold  Uxcm.  Suffice  it,  that  there  were  more  womeu 
than  men  in  from  six  to  nine  Slates  in  the  Union.^" — Mii».  Mortineav^ 

5* 


if  '    il 


irii: 


If  'r 


II  ^'i 


54 


MA:iRTATVDrART. 


the  Mississippi,  although  I  consider  that  they  would  suffer  little 
from  a  war,  as  neither  England,  nor  any  other  nation,  will  ever  be 
80  unwise  in  future  as  to  attack  in  a  quarter,  where  she  would 
have  extended  the  olive  branch,  even  if  it  were  not  immediately 
accepted.  Whether  America  is  engaged  in  war,  therefore,  or  re- 
mains in  peace,  the  Western  States  must,  and  will  soon  be  the  arbi- 
ters, and  dictate  as  they  please  to  the  Eastern. 

At  present,  they  may  be  considered  as  infants,  not  yet  of  age, 
and  the  Eastern  States  are  their  guardians;  the  profits  of  their  pro- 
duce are  divided  between  them  and  the  merchants  of  the  Eastern 
cities,  who  receive  at  least  thirty  per  cent,  as  their  share.  This 
must  be  the  case  at  present,  when  the  advances  of  the  Eastern 
capitalists  are  required  by  the  cotton  growers,  who  are  precisely  in 
the  same  position  with  the  Eastern  States,  as  the  West  India  plant- 
ters  used  to  be  with  the  merchants  of  London  and  Liverpool,  to 
whom  they  consigned  their  cargoes  for  advances  received.  But  the 
Western  States  (to  follow  up  the  metaphor)  will  soon  be  of  age, 
and  no  longer  under  control :  even  last  year,  vessels  were  freighted 
direct  from  England  to  Vicksburg,  on  the  Mississippi;  in  a  few 
years,  there  will  be  large  importing  houses  in  the  far  West,  who 
will  have  their  goods  direct  from  England  at  one  half  the  price 
which  they  now  pay  for  them,  when  forwarded  from  New  York,  by 
canal,  and  other  conveyances.*  Indeed,  a  very  little  inquiry  will 
prove,  that  the  prosperity  of  the  Eastern  free  States  depends  in  a 
great  measure  upon  the  Western  and  Southern.  The  Eastern 
States  are  the  receivers  and  transporters  of  goods,  and  the  carriers 
of  most  of  the  produce  of  the  Union*  They  advance  money  on  the 
crops,  and  charge  high  interest,  commissions,  &c.  The  transport 
and  travelling  between  the  Eastern,  Southern,  and  Western 
States,  are  one  great  source  of  this  prosperity,  from  the  employ- 
ment on  the  canals,  rail  roads,  and  steam  boats. 

All  these  are  heavy  charges  to  the  Western  States,  and  can  be 
avoided  by  shipping  direct  from,  and  sending  their  produce  direct 
to,  the  Old  Continent.  As  the  Western  States  advance  in  wealth, 
so  will  they  advance  in  power,  and  in  proportion  as  they  so  do,  will 
the  Eastern  States  recede,  until  they  will  be  lefl  in  a  small  mino- 
rity, and  will  eventually  have  little  voice  in  the  Union. 

Here,  then,  is  a  risk  of  convulsion  ;  for  the  clashing  of  interests, 
next  to  a  war,  is  the  greatest  danger  to  which  a  democracy  can  be 
exposed.  In  a  democracy,  every  one  legislates,  and  every  one  legis- 
lates for  his  own  interests.  The  Eastern  States  will  still  be 
wealthy  and  formidable,  from  their  population ;  but  the  commerce 
of  the  principal  Eastern  cities  will  decrease,  and  they  will  have 
little  or  no  staple  produce  to  return  to  England,  or  elsewhere ; 
whereas  the  Western  States  can  produce  every  thing  that  the 
heart  of  man  can  desire,  and  can  be  wholly  independent  of  them. 
They  have,  in  the  West,  every  variety  of  coal  and  mineral,  to  a 
boundless  extent;  a  rich  alluvial  soil,  hardly  to>  be  exhausted  by 
bad  cultivation,  and  wonderful  facilities  of  transport;   independent  | 

*  To  give  the  reader  some  idea  of  the  price  of  European  articles  in 
the  Western  country,  I  will  mention  cloth.  A  coat  which  costs  jC4 
in  England,  is  chb-'ed  £1.  IQs.  at  New  York;  and  at  Cincinnati,  iu 
the  West»  upwards  oif  JCIO. 


'•'^■■- 


n: 


MARRY  AT  S  DIARY. 


55 


yet  of  age, 
)f  their  pro- 
the  Eastern 
liare.  This 
he  Eastern 
precisely  in 
India  plant- 
liverpool,  to 
ed.  But  the 
be  of  age,, 
re  freighted 
;  in  u  few 
West,  who 
If  the  price 
;w  York,  by 
inq^uiry  will 
spends  in  a 
'he  Eastern 
the  carriers 
bney  on  the 
le  transport 
d  Western 
he  ennploy- 

and  can  be 
iduce  direct 
}  in  wealth, 
r  so  do,  will 
small  mino- 

)f  interests, 

racy  can  be 

^  one  legis- 

ill  still  be 

commerce 

'  will  have 

jlsewhere ; 

ig  that  the 

It  of  them. 

ncral,  to  a 

lausted  by 

idependent 

articles  in 
h  costs  jC4 
neinnati,  ia 


of  the  staple  produce  of  cotton,  they  might  supply  the  whole  world 
with  grain;  sugar  they  already  cultivate;  the  olive  flourishes; 
wine  is  already  produced  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  and  the  prospect 
of  raising  silk  is  beyond  calculation.  In  %  few  days,  the  manufac- 
tures of  the  Old  World  can  find  their  way  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi  by  ita  thousand  tributary  streams,  which  run  like  veins 
through  every  portion  of  the  country,  to  the  confines  of  Arkansas 
and  Missouri,  to  the  head  of  navigation  at  St.  Peter's,  on  again  to 
Wisconsin,  Michigan,  and  to  the  northern  lakes,  at  a  much  cheaper 
rate  than  they  are  supplied  at  present. 

One  really  is  lost  in  admiration  when  one  surveys  this  great  and 
glorious  Western  country,  and  contemplates  the  splendour  and 
riches  to  which  it  must  ultimately  arrive. 

As  soon  as  the  Eastern  States  are  no  longer  permitted  to  remain 
the  factors  of  the  Western,  they  must  be  content  to  become  manu- 
facturing states,  and  probably  will  compete  with  England.  The 
Western  States,  providentially,  I  may  say,  are  not  likely  to  be  ma- 
nufacturers to  any  great  extent,  for  they  have  not  water  powers; 
the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  is  an  alluvial  flat,  and  although  the 
Missouri  and  Mississippi  are  ewift  streams,  in  general  the  rivers  are 
sluggish,  and,  at  all  events,  they  have  not  the  precipitate  falls  of 
water  necessary  for  machinery,  and  which  abound  in  the  North- 
eastern States;  indeed,  if  the  Western  States  were  to  attempt  to 
manufacture^  as  well  as  to  produce,  they  would  spoil  the  market 
for  their  own  produce.  Whatever  may  be  the  result,  whether  the 
Eastern  States  submit  quietly  to  be  shorn  of  their  greatness,  (a 
change  which  must  take  place,)  or  to  contest  the  point  until  it  ends 
in  a  separation,  this  is  certain,  that  the  focus  of  American  wealth 
and  power  will  eventually  be  firmly  established  in  the  Free  States 
on  the  other  side  of  the  Alleghany  mountains 


CHAPTER  VI. 

NEWSPAPER  PRESS. 

Ma.  TocQUKViLLE  observes,  "  that  not  a  single  individual  of  the 
twelve  millions  who  inhabit  the  territory  of  the  United  States  has 
as  yet  dared  to  propose  any  restrictions  upon  the  liberty  of  the 
press."  This  is  true,  and  all  the  respectable  Americans  acknow- 
ledge that  this  liberty  has  degenerated  into  a  licentiousness  which 
threatens  the  most  alarming  results;  as  it  has  assumed  a  power, 
which  awes  not  only  individuals,  but  the  government  itself.  A  due 
liberty  allowed  to  the  press,  may  force  a  government  to  do  right, 
but  a  licentiousness  may  compel  it  into  error.  The  American  au- 
thor, Mr.  Cooper,  very  justly  remarks :  "  It  may  be  taken  as  a  rule, 
that  without  the  liberty  of  the  press  there  can  be  no  popular  liber- 
ty in  a  nation,  and  without  its  licentiousness,  neither  public  hones- 
ty, justice^  or  a  proper  regard  for  character.  Of  the  two,  perhaps, 
that  people  is  the  happiest  which  is  deprived  altogether  of  a  free 
press,  as  private  honesty  and  a  healthful  tone  of  the  public  miad 


!    li 


.  I  I  i 


"ii 


u 


5» 


HARRTAT^S  DIAUT. 


I' 


■1'1 


1 


h  I' 


V 

i  I'! 


•J        J! 


I* 


II 


^'1 


m 


arc  not  incompatible  with  narrow  institutions,  though  neither  can 
exist  under  the  corrupting  action  of  a  licentiousness  press." 
And  again — 

••  As  the  press  of  this  country  now  exists,  it  would  seem  to  be  c.: 
pressly  devised  by  the  great  agent  of  mischief,  to  depress  and  de< 
«troy  all  that  is  good,  and  to  elevate  and  advance  all  that  is  evil  in 
the  nation.  The  little  truth  which  is  urged,  is  usually  urged 
coarsely,  weakened  and  rendered  vicious  by  personalities,  while 
those  who  live  by  falsehoods,  fallacies,  enmities,  partialities,  and  the 
Cichemes  of  the  designing,  find  the  press  the  very  instrument  that 
devils  would  invent  to  effect  their  designs." 

A  witty,  but  unprincipled  statesman  of  our  own  times,  has  said, 
that  "speech  was  bestowed  on  man  to  conceal  his  thoughts;" 
judging  from  its  present  condition,  he  might  have  added — "  tho 
press,  in  America,  to  pervert  truth,^^ 

But  were  I  to  quote  the  volumes  of  authority  from  American  and 
English  writers,  they  would  tire  the  reader.  Tho  above  are  for 
the  present  quite  sufficient  to  establish  the  fact,  that  the  press  in 
the  United  States  is  licentious  to  the  highest  possible  degree,  and 
defies  control;  my  object  is  to  point  out  the  effect  of  tlii?  despotism 
upon  society,  and  to  show  how  injurious  it  is  in  every  way  to  tho 
cause  of  morality  and  virtue. 

Of  course,  the  newspaper  press  is  the  most  mischievous,  in  con- 
sequence of  its  daily  circulation,  the  violence  of  political  animosity, 
and  the  want  of  respectability  in  a  large  proportion  of  the  editors. 
The  number  of  papers  published  and  circulated  in  Great  Britain, 
among  a  population  of  twenty-six  millions,  is  calculated  at  about 
three  bundrec'  and  seventy.  The  nu'nber  published  in  tlie  United 
States,  among  thirteen  millions,  are  supposed  to  vary  between  nine 
and  ten  thousand.  Now  the  value  of  newspapers  may  be  fairly 
calculated  by  the  capital  expended  upon  them;  and  not  only  is  not 
one-quarter  of  the  sum  expended  in  England,  npon  three  hundred 
and  seventy  newspapers,  expended  upon  the  nine  or  ten  thousand 
in  America;  but  I  really  believe  that  the  expense  of  the  'Times' 
newspaper  alone,  is  equal  to  at  least^j;e</to?/««n/iof  the  minor  pa- 
pers in  the  United  States,  which  are  edited  by  people  of  no  literary  ' 
pretension,  and  at  an  expense  so  trifling  as  would  appear  to  us  not 
only  ridiculous,  but  impossible.  As  to  the  capabilities  of  the  ma- 
jority of  the  editors,  let  the  Americans  speak  for  themselves. 

"  Every  wretch  who  can  write  an  English  paragraph  (and  many 
who  cannot,)  every  pettifogger  without  practice,  every  one  whose 
poverty  or  crimes  have  just  left  him  cash  or  credit  enough  to  pro- 
cure a  press  and  types,  sets  up  a  newspaper." 
Again — 

"  If  you  be  puzzled  what  to  do  with  your  son,  if  he  be  a  born 
dunce,  if  reading  and  writing  be  all  the  accomplishments  he  can 
acquire,  if  he  be  horribly  ignoraiit  and  depraved,  if  he  be  indolent 
and  an  incorrigible  liar,  lost  to  all  shame  and  decency,  and  incurably 
dishonest,  make  a  newspaper  editor  of  him.  Look  around  you,  and 
see  a  thousand  successful  proofs  that  no  excellence  or  acquirement,, 
moral  or  intellectual,  is  requisite  to  conduct  a  press.  The  mens 
defective  an  editor  is,  the  better  he  succeeds.  We  could  give  a 
thousand  instances." — Boston  News, 


Thes( 
in  man} 

80  cheqi 
also  asst 
editors  ir 
very  we 
and  Enqi 
by  Doct( 
are  too 
papers, 
its  sarca 
Prentice 
speaking 
leans  Pi( 

amusinsr 
mention, 
jority  arc 
odious  pi 
norance 
tract  or  i 
lous  cour 
thus  cone 

"I'm 
the  top, 
nations— 
with  iror 
blow  I  s 
is  a  torn 
flash — wi 
in  circur 
Anoth( 
"On 
gatherin< 
cloud  th 
south-eas 
forced  th 
outrageo 
age,  and 
just  abru 
made  ric 
noon  full 

"1    CO 

"  Yes, 
pusculou 
the  dark 
those  m^ 
have  ffci 
Again 
»  Man 
world,  b 
the  learr 
King  a 
the  tradi 


MARRYAT*S  DIARY. 


57 


neither  can 
ess." 

em  to  be  cj 
ress  and  de* 
at  is  evil  in 
ually  urged 
lities,  while 
ties,  and  the 
uincnt  that 

SB,  has  said, 

thoughts;" 

Ided— "  the 

lerican  and 
•ove  are  for 
le  press  in 
legreo,  and 
?  fkspotism 
way  to  the 

)us,  in  con- 
animosity, 
the  editors, 
tat  Britain, 
}d  at  about 
ho  United 
ween  nine 
y  be  fairly 
)nly  is  not 
hundred 
thousand 
Times' 
minor  pa- 
10  literary    ' 
to  us  not 
f  the  ma- 
es. 

md  many 
ne  whose 
h  to  pro- 

)e  a  born 
s  he  can 
indolent 
ncurably 
you,  anil 
lirement^ 
he  morn 
d  give  a 


>  ( 


These  are  the  assertions  of  the  Americans,  not  my  own ;  that 
in  many  instances  they  are  true,  I  have  no  doubt.  In  a  country 
so  chequered  as  the  United  States,  such  must  be  expected;  but  I  can 
also  assert,  that  there  are  many  very  highly  respectable  and  clever 
editors  in  the  United  Slates.  The  New  York  papers  are  mostof  them 
very  well  conducted,  and  very  well  written.  The  New  York  Courier 
and  Enquirer,  Colonel  Webb;  the  Evening  Star,  by  Noah;  the  Albion, 
by  Doctor  Bartlett;  Spirit  of  the  Times,  and  many  others,  which 
are  too  numerous  to  quote,  are  equal  to  many  of  the  English  news- 
papers. The  best  written  paper  in  the  States,  and  the  happiest  in 
its  sarcasm  and  wit,  is  the  Louisville  Gazette,  conducted  by  Mr. 
Prentice  of  Kentucky;  indeed,  the  western  papers,  are,  generally 
speaking,  more  amusing  and  witty  than  the  eastern;  the  New  Or- 
leans Picayune,  by  Kendall,  is  perhaps,  after  Prentice's,  the  most 
amusing;  but  there  are  many  more,  which  are  too  numerous  to 
mention,  which  do  great  credit  to  American  talent.    Still  the  ma- 

I  jority  are  disgraceful  not  only  from  their  vulgarity,  but  from  their 

1  odious  personalities  and  disregard  to  truth.  The  bombast  and  ig- 
norance shown  in  some  of  these  is  very  amusing.    Here  is  an  ex- 

.    tract  or  two  from  the  small  newspapers  published  in  the  less  popu- 

I   lous  countries.    An  editor  down  East,  speaking  of  his  own  merits, 

!    thus  concludes — 

"  Pm  a  real  catastrophe — a  small  creation ;  Mount  Vesuvius  at 
the  top,  with  red  hot  lava  pouring  out  of  the  crater,  and  routing 
nations — my  fists  are  rocky  mountains — arms,  whig  liberty  poles, 
with  iron  springs.  Every  step  I  take  is  an  earthquake — every 
blow  I  strike  is  a  clap  of  thunder — and  every  breath  I  breathe 
is  a  tornado.  My  disposition  is  Dupont's  best,  and  goes  off  at  a 
flash — when  I  blast  there'll  be  nothing  left  but  a  hole  three  feet 
in  circumference  and  no  end  to  its  depth." 
Another  writes  the  account  of  a  storm  as  follows : — 
"On  Monday  afternoon,  while  the  haymakers  were  all  out 
gathering  in  the  hay,  in  anticipation  of  a  shower  from  the  small 
cloud  that  was  seen  hanging  over  the  hilly  regions  towards  the 

.;•    south-east,  a   tremendous   storm  suddenly  burst  upon  them,  and 
#    forced  them  to  seek  shelter  from  its  violence.    The  wind  whistled 

'  outrageously  through  the  old  elms,  scattering  the  beautiful  foli- 
age, and  then  going  down  into  the  meadow,  where  the  men  had 
just  abruptly  \eft  their  work  unfinished,  and  overturning  the  half- 
made  ricks,  whisked  them  into  the  air,  and  filled  the  whole  after- 
noon full  of  hay." 

"  1  copied  the  following  from  a  western  paper: 
*'  Yes,  my  countrymen,  a  dawn  begins  to  open  upon  us;  the  cre- 
pusculous  rays  of  returning  republicanism  are  fast  extending  over 
the  darkness  of  our  political  horizon,  and  before  their  brightness, 
those  myrmidons  shall  slink  away  to  the  abode  of  the  demons  who 
have  generated  them,  in  the  hollow  caves  of  darkness." 
Again — 

"Many  who  have  acquired  great  fame  and  celebrity  in  the 
world,  began  their  career  as  printers.  Sir  William  Blackstone, 
the  learned  English  commentator  of  laws,  was  a  printer  by  trade. 
King  Charles  III.  was  a  printer,  and  not  unfrequently  worked  at 
the  trade  after  he  ascended  the  throne  of  England." 


-  ii- 


•   n 


u 


M 


!    1 


68 


MARRY AT^S  DIARY. 


1^;:' 


'i . 


Who 


Charles  III.  of  England  was  I  do  not  know,'as  he  is  not  yet 
mentioned  in  any  of  our  histories. 

The  most  remarkable  newspaper  for  its  obscenity,  and  total  dis- 
regard for  all  decency  and  truth  in  its  personal  attacks,  is  tho 
Morning  Herald  of  New  York,  published  by  a  person  of  the  nam 
of  Bennett,  and  being  published  in  so  largo  a  city,  it  affords  a  con- 
vincing proof  with  what  impunity  the  most  licentious  attacks  upon 
private  characters  are  permitted.  But  Mr.  Bennett  is  suigenerh 
and  demands  particular  notice.  He  is  indeed  a  remarkable  man. 
a  species  of  philosopher,  who  acts  up  to  his  tenets  with  a  mora 
courage  not  often  to  be  met  with  in  the  United  States.  His  maxim 
appears  to  be  this — -"  Money  will  find  me  every  thing  in  this  world, 
and  money  I  will  have,  at  any  risk,  except  that  of  my  life,  as,  if  1 
lost  that,  the  money  would  be  useless."  Acting  upon  this  creed. 
he  has  lent  his  paper  to  the  basest  and  most  malignant  purposes,  to 
the  hatred  of  all  that  is  respectable  and  good,  defaming  and  invent- 
ing lies  against  every  honest  man,  attacking  the  peace  and  happi- 
ness of  private  families  by  the  most  injurious  and  base  calumny. 
As  may  be  supposed,  he  has  been  horse-whipped,  kicked,  trodden 
under  foot,  and  spat  upon,  and  degraded  in  every  possible  way;  but 
all  this  he  courts,  because  it  brings  money.  Horse-whip  him,  and 
he  will  bend  his  back  to  the  lash,  and  thank  you,  as  every  blow  is 
worth  so  many  dollars.  Kick  him,  and  he  will  remove  his  coat 
tails,  that  you  may  have  a  better  mark,  and  he  courts  the  applica- 
tion of  the  toe,  while  he  counts  the  total  of  the  damages  which  he 
may  obtain.  Spit  upon  him,  and  he  prizes  it  aa  precious  ointment, 
for  it  brings  him  the  sovereign  remedy  for  his  disease,  a  fever  for 
specie. 

The  day  after  the  punishment,  he  publishes  a  full  and  particular 
account  of  how  many  kicks,  tweaks  of  the  nose,  or  lashes  he  may 
have  received.  He  prostitutes  his  pen,  his  talent,  every  thing  for 
money.  His  glory  is,  that  he  has  passed  the  rubicon  of  shame;  and 
all  he  regrets  is,  that  the  public  is  at  last  coming  to  the  unanimous 
opinion,  that  he  is  too  contemptible,  too  degraded,  to  be  even 
touched.  The  other,  and  more  respectable  editors  of  newspapers, 
avoid  him,  on  account  of  the  filth  which  he  pours  forth ;  like  a  pole- 
cat, he  may  be  hunted  down  ;  but  no  dog  will  ever  attempt  to  worry 
him,  as  soon  as  he  pours  out  the  contents  of  his  foetid  bag. 

It  is  a  convincing  proof  of  the  ardent  love  of  defamation  in  this 
country,  that  this  modern  Thersites,  who  throws  the  former  of  that 
name  so  immeasurably  into  the  back  ground,  has  still  great  sway 
over  men  in  office;  everyone  almost,  who  has  a  character  is  afraid 
of  him,  and  will  purchase  his  silence,  if  they  cannot  his  good 
will. 

During  the  crash  at  New  York,  when  even  the  suspicion  of  in- 
solvency was  fatal,  this  miscreant  published  some  of  the  most  re* 
spectable  persons  of  New  York  as  bankrupts,  and  yet  received  no 
punishment.  His  paper  is  clever,  that  is  certain;  but  I  very  much 
doubt  if  Bennett  is  the  clever  man — and  my  reason  is  this,  Bennett 
was  for  some  time  in  England,  and  during  that  time  the  paper,  so 
far  from  falling  oflT,  was  better  written  than  before.    I  myself,  be- 


fore I  had 
'^wretch,  ai 
email  note 
/Btopped  "■ 
Captain 
.Bays — 
I     "  In  ore 
|j)ors  from 
|tible,  in  pc 
|cite  a  fee 
Ipublic  wl)i 
}  know  nc 
people  mu 
circuinstai 

In  the 
,     "Our  n 
Rgainst  pr( 
But  its  vio 
*jcities  are 
gracious 
iliigland,  e 
|A  hint — a 
>— such  thi 
met  by  pre 
but  in  Air 
Aveapons. 
requisition 
.    It  may  L 
«8'  permit 
are  vendee 
Bupport  of 
and  lower 
find  hardly 
ing  to  gov 
the  string 
worst  feeli 
too  apt  to 
when  the 
opinions,  t 
with  these 
before  obs 
and  but  tc 
might  lia\ 
The  other 
^^end,  I  obs 
4]>robably  t 
~a  cheap  p 
try  called 


•  Some 
luntry. 
uUtion^  ] 
hc^eail 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


59 


(  n 


3  he  is  not  yet 

and  total  (lis- 
ttacks,  is  the 
1  of  the  name 
afTords  a  con- 
I  attacks  upon 
s  sui  generis 
larkable  man. 
with  a  moral 
His  maxim 
in  this  world, 
y  life,  as,  if  i 
)n  this  creed, 
t  purposes,  to 
g  and  invent- 
ze  and  happi- 
)ase  calumny. 
;ked,  trodden 
ible  way;  but 
I'hip  him,  and 
every  blow  is 
love  his  coat 
8  the  applica- 
ges  which  he 
3us  ointment, 
ie,  a  fever  for 

nd  particular 
shes  he  may 
ery  thing  for 
f  shame;  and 
e  unanimous 

to  be  even 
newspapers, 

like  a  pole- 
npt  to  worry 

bag. 

lation  in  this 
rmer  of  that 

great  sway 
Iter  is  afraid 
ot  his  good 

)icion  of  in- 
he  most  re- 
received  no 

very  much 
his,  Bennett 
ie  paper,  so 

myself,  be- 


? 


ore  I  had  been  six  weeks  in  the  country,  was  attacked  by  this 

retch,  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  paper  was  sent  to  me  with  this 
mall  note  on  the  margin : — "  Send  twenty  dollars,  and  it  shall  be 
topped  " — "  I  only  wish  you  may  get  it,"  said  I  to  myself.* 

Captain  Hamilton,  speaking  of  the  newspaper  press  in  Amcricai 
ays — 

"  In  order  to  form  a  fair  estimate  of  their  merit,  I  read  newspa- 
ers  frum  all  parts  of  the  union,  and  found  them  utterly  contemp- 
iblc,  in  point  of  talent,  and  dealing  in  abuse  so  virulent,  as  to  ex- 
cite a  feeling  of  disgust,  not  only  with  the  writers,  but  with  the 
ubiic  which  afforded  them  support.    Tried  by  this  standard — and 

know  not  how  it  can  be  objected  to — the  moral  feeling  of  this 
people  must  be  estimated  lower  than  in  any  deductions  from  other 
circumstances  I  have  ventured  to  rate  it." 

In  the  following  remarks,  also,  I  most  cordially  agree  with  him. 

"  Our  newspaper  and  periodical  press  is  bad  enough.  Its  sins 
figainst  propriety  cannot  be  justified,  and  ought  not  to  be  defended. 
}3ut  its  violence  is  meekness,  its  liberty  restraint,  and  even  its  atro- 
ijcities  are  virtues,  when  compared  with  that  system  of  brutal  and 
ferocious  outrage  which  distinguishes  the  press  in  America.  In 
%Ingland,  even  an  insinuation  against  personal  honour  is  intolerable. 
jA  hint — a  breath — the  contemplation  even  of  a  possibility  of  tarnish 
•—such  things  are  sufficient  to  poison  the  tranquillity,  and,  unless 
met  by  prompt  vindication,  to  ruin  the  character  of  a  public  man; 
but  in  America,  it  is  thought  necessary  to  have  recourse  to  other 
Aveapons.  The  strongest  epithets  of  a  ruffian  vocabulary  are  put  in 
requisition." 

It  may  be  asked,  how  is  it  possible  that  an  "  enlightened  nation  " 
ca*  permit  such  atrocity.  It  must  be  remembered,  that  newspapers 
are  vended  at  a  very  low  price  throughout  the  States,  and  that  the 
support  of  the  major  portion  of  them  is  derived  from  the  ignorant 
and  lower  classes.  Every  man  in  America  reads  his  newspaper^ 
and  hardly  any  thing  else;  and  while  he  considers  that  he  is  assist- 
ing to  govern  the  nation,  he  is  in  fact,  the  dupe  of  those  who  pull 
the  strings  in  secret,  and  by  flattering  his  vanity,  and  exciting  his 
worst  feelings,  make  him  a  poor  tool  in  their  hands.  People  are 
too  apt  to  imagine  that  the  newspapers  echo  their  own  feelings; 
when  the  fact  is,  that  by  taking  in  a  paper,  which  upholds  cerlair> 
opinions,  the  readers  are,  by  daily  repetition,  become  so  impressed 
with  these  opinions,  that  they  have  become  slaves  to  them.  I  have 
before  observed,  that  learning  to  read  and  write  is  not  education* 
and  but  too  often  is  the  occasion  of  the  demoralization  of  those,  who 
might  have  been  more  virtuous  and  more  happy  in  tlieir  ignorance. 
|The  other  day  when  I  was  in  a  steam-vessel,  going  down  to  Graves- 
end,  I  observed  a  foot-boy  sitting  on  one  of  the  benches — he  was 
,])robably  ten  or  eleven  years  old,  and  was  deeply  engaged  in  reading 
|a  cheap  periodical,  mostly  confined  to  the  lower  orders  of  this  coan- 
'|try  called  the  Penny  Paul  Pry.    Surely  it  had  been  a  blessing  to 

*  Some  of  the  invented  caluinniea  against  me  found  their  way  to  this 
juntry.    I  consider  the  contents  (tf  this  chapter  to  be  a  stifficientre. 
'utationt  not  only  of  what  has  been,  but  of  what  will  in  all  probability 
~  hereafter  asserted  against  me  by  the  American  press. 


-]' 


(( 


^H       <l 


eo 


MARRYAT^S  DIARY. 


'i^i^ 


.  i 


■  :    Jii 


the  lad,  if  he  had  never  learnt  to  read  or  write,  if  he  confined  his 
studies,  as  probably  too  many  do,  from  want  of  farther  leisure,  to  such 
an  immoral  and  disgusting  publication. 

In  a  country  where  every  man  is  a  politician,  and  flatters  himself 
that  he  is  assisting  to  govern  the  country,  political  animosities  must 
of  course  bo  carried  to  the  greatest  lengths,  and  the  press  is  the 
vehicle  for  party  violence;  but  Captain  Hamilton's  remarks  are  so 
forcible,  and  so  correct,  that  I  prefer  them  to  any  I  could  make  my- 
self. 

"  The  opponents  of  a  candidate  for  office,  are  generally  not  con- 
tent with  denouncing  his  principles,  or  deducing  from  the  tenor  of 
his  political  life,  grounds  for  questioning  the  purity  of  his  motives. 
They  accuse  him  boldly  of  burglary  or  arson,  or  at  the  very  least, 
of  petty  larceny.     Time,  place  ana  circumstances,  are  all  stated. 
The  candidate  for  Congress  or  the  Presidency,  is  broadly  asserted  to 
have  picked  pockets,  or  pocketed  silver  spoons,  or  to  have  been  guil- 
ty of  something  equally  mean  and  contemptible.    Two  instances  of 
this,  occur  at  this  moment  to  my  memory.    In  one  newspaper,  a 
member  of  Congress  was  denounced  as  having  feloniously  broken 
open  a  scrutoire,  and  having  thence  stolen  certain  bills  and  bank- 
notes;  another  was  charged  with  selling  franks  at  twopence  a 
piece,  and  thus  coppering  his  pockets  at  the  expense  of  the  public." 
But  let  me  add  the  authority  of  Americans.    Mr.  Webster,  in  his 
celebrated  speech  on  the  public  lands,  observes  in  that  powerful 
and  nervous  language  for  which  he  is  so  celebrated: — "It  is  one 
of  the  thousand  calumnies  with  which  the  press  teemed,  during  an 
excited  political  canvass.     It  was  a  charge,  of  which  there  wae 
not  only  no  proof  or  probability,  but  which  was,  in  itself,  wholly  im- 
possible to  be  true.     No  man  of  common  information  ever  believed 
a  syllable  of  it.    Yet  it  was  of  that  class  of  falsehoods,  which  by 
continued  repetition,  through  all  the  organs  of  detraction  and  abuse, 
are  capable  of  misleading  those  who  are  already  far  misled,  and  of 
farther  fanning  passion,  already  kindled  into  flame.    Doubtless,  it 
served  in  its  day,  and,  in  greater  or  less  degree,  the  end  designed 
by  it.    Having  done  that,  it  has  sunk  into  the  general  mass  of  stale 
and  loathed  calumnies.    It  is  the  very  cast-off  slough  of  a  polluted 
and  shameless  press."    And  Mr.  Cooper  observes—"  Every  honest 
man  appears  to  admit  that  the  press  in  America  is  fast  getting  to  be 
intolerable.    In  escaping  from  the  tyranny  of  foreign  aristocrats, 
we  have  created  in  our  bosoms  a  tyranny  of  a  character  so  insup- 
portable^  that  a  change  of  some  sort  is  getting  indispensable  to 
peace." 

Indeed,  the  spirit  of  de&mation,  so  rife  in  America,  is  so  inti- 
mately connected  with  its  principal  channel,  the  press,  that  it  ia 
impossible  to  mention  one,  without  the  other,  and  I  shall,  therefore, 
at  once  enter  into  the  question. 

Defamation  is  the  greatest  curse  in  the  United  States,  and 
its  effects  upon  society  I  shall  presently  point  out  It  appears 
to  be  inseparable  from  a  democratic  form  of  government,  and 
must  continue  to  flourish  ia  it,  until  it  pleases  the  Supreme 
to  change  the  hearts  of  men.  When  Aristides  inquired  of  the 
CQUQtrynwn,  who  requested  him  to  write  down  hie  own  name  oa 


MARHYAT  S    DIARY. 


61 


rs  himself 
ilies  must 
ess  is  the 
ks  are  so 
nake  my- 

r  not  con- 
I  tenor  of 

motives, 
ery  least, 
tU  stated, 
sscrted  to 
been  guil- 
stances  of 
/spa per,  a 
ly  broken 
md  bank- 
opence  a 
e  public." 
iter,  in  his 

powerful 
'  It  is  one 
luring  an 
hero  was 
rbolly  im- 
'  believed 
which  by 
ind  abuse, 
d,  and  of 
ubtless,  it 

designed 
ss  of  stale 
I  polluted 
ry  honest 
ting  to  be 
ristocrats, 
so  iTtsup- 
snsable  to 

i  SO  inti- 
that  it  is 
therefore, 

Ktes,  and 
;  appears 
lent,  and 
Supreme 
i  of  the 
nameoa 


i 


Cnn  oysler-tthell,  what  cause  of  complaint  he  had  ajTainsl  Aris- 
lides;  the  reply  pivcn  was,  "  I  have  none;  except,  tlr.it  I  do  not 
like  to  hear  him  always  called  the  Just.*^  So  it  is  with  the  free 
und  enlightened  citizens  of  America.  Let  any  man  rise  above 
his  fellows  by  superior  talent,  lot  him  hold  a  consistent,  honest 
career,  and  he  is  exalted  only  into  a  pillory,  to  be  pelted  at,  and  be 
defiled  with  ordure.  False  accusations,  the  basest  insinuations, 
are  industriously  (Mrculated,  his  public  and  private  character 
are  equally  aspersed,  truth  is  wholly  disregarded  :  even  those 
who  have  assisted  to  rnise  him  to  his  pedestal,  as  soon  as  they 
perceive  that  he  has  risen  too  high  above  tliem,  are  equally  in- 
tlustrious  and  eajrer  to  drnjr  him  down  again.  Defamation  exists 
ull  over  the  world,  but  it  is  incredible  to  what  an  extent  this 
vice  is  carried  in  America.  It  is  a  disease  which  pervades  the 
land  ;  which  renders  every  man  suspicious  and  cautious  of  his 
neighbour,  creates  eye-service  and  hypocrisy,  fosters  the  bitterest 
and  most  malignant  passions,  and  unceasingly  irritates  the 
morbid  sensibility,  so  remarkable  among  all  classes  of  ilie 
American  people. 

Captain  Hamilton,  speaking  of  the  political  conti'^sts,  says, 
"  From  one  extremity  of  the  Union  to  the  other,  the  political 
war  slogan  is  sounded.  No  quarter  is  given  on  either  side ; 
every  printing  press  in  the  United  States  is  engaged  in  the 
eondict.  Iteason,  justice,  and  charity  ;  the  claims  of  age  and 
of  past  services,  of  high  talents  and  unspotted  integrity,  are  for- 
gotten. No  lie  is  too  malignant  to  be  employed  in  this  unhal- 
lowed contest,  if  it  can  but  serve  the  purpose  of  deluding,  even 
for  a  moment,  the  most  ignorant  of  mankind.  No  insinuation 
is  too  base,  no  equii^ocation  too  mean,  no  artifice  too  paltry. 
The  world  affords  no  parallel  to  the  scene  of  political  depravity 
exhibited  periodically  in  this  free  country." 

(lovernor  Clinton,  in  his  address  to  the  legislature   in  1828, 
says, — "Party  spirit  has   entered  the  recesses  of  retirement, 
violated  the  sanctity  of  female  character,  invaded  the  tranquillity 
of  private  life,  and  visited  with  severe  inflictions  the  peace  of 
tamilies.     Neither  elevation  nor  humility  has  been  spared,  nor 
the  charities  of  life,  nor  distinguished   public  services,  nor  the 
fire-side,  nor  the  altar,  been  left  free  from  attack  ;  but  a  licentious 
and  destroying  spirit  has  gone  forth,  regardless  of  everything, 
hut  the  gratification  of  malignant  feelings  and  unworthy  aspira- 
tions."    And  in  the  New  York  Annual   Register,  quoted  by 
(^aptain  Hamilton,  we  have  the  following  remarks  :  '*  In  con- 
ducting the  political  discussions  which  followed  ihe  adjourn- 
ment of  Congress,  both  truth  and  propriety  were  set  at  defiance. 
The  decencies  of  private  life  were  disregarded;  conversations 
nnd  correspondence  which  should  have  been  confidential,  were 
brought  before  the  public  eye;  the  ruthless  warfare  was  carried 
into  the  bosom  of  private  life;  neither  age  nor  sex  were  spared, 
the  daily  press  teemed  with  ribaldry  and  falsehood  ;  and  even 

6 


111 

m 


1 1 


H    I 


I* 


.!* 


i*  I 


62 


MARRYAT  8    DIARY 


the   tomb  was  not  held  sacred  from  the   rancorous   hostility 
which  distinguished  the  presidential  election  of  1828." 

I  have  considered  it  necessary  thus  to  heap  authority  upon 
authority,  as  the  subject  is  one  of  the  most  vital  importance; 
and  I  must  first  provt;  the  extent  of  this  vice,  without  the  chance 
of  the  shadow  of  contradiction,  before  I  point  out  its  fatal  con- 
sen  uences. 

That  the  political  animosities  arising  from  a  free  and  enlight- 
ened people  governing  themselves,  have  principally  engendered 
and  fostered  this  vice,  is  most  certain ;  and  it  would  be  aonio 
satisfaction,  if,  after  iho  hostile  feelings  had  subsided,  the  hydra 
also  sank  to  repose. 

But  this  cannot  bo  the  case.  A  vice,  like  detraction,  so  con- 
genial to  our  imperfect  natures,  is  not  to  be  confined  to  one 
channel,  and  only  resorted  to,  as  a  political  weapon,  when  re- 
quired. It  is  a  vice  which  when  once  called  into  action,  and 
unchecked  by  the  fear  of  punishment  or  shame,  must  exist  and 
be  fed.  It  becomes  a  confirmed  habit,  and  the  effect  upon  society 
is  dreadful.  If  it  cannot  aim  its  shafts  at  those  who  are  in  high 
places,  if  there  is  no  noble  quarry  for  its  weapons,  it  will  seek 
Its  food  amongst  smaller  game,  for  it  never  tires.  The  conse- 
quence is,  that  it  pervades  and  feeds  upon  society — private  life 
is  embittered  ;  and,  as  Mr.  Cooper  most  justly  observes,  "  ren- 
dering men  indifferent  to  character,  and  indeed  rendering  character 
of  little  avaiiy 

Indeed,  from  the  prevalence  of  this  vice,  society  in  America 
appears  to  be  in  a  state  of  constant  warfare — Indian  warfare,  as 
every  one  is  crouched,  concealed,  watching  for  an  opportunity 
to  scalp  the  reputation  of  his  neighbour!     They  exist  in  fear 
and  trembling,  afraid  to  speak,  afraid  to  act,  or  follow  their  own 
will,  for  in  America  there  is  no  free  will.     When  I  have  asked 
why  they  do  not  this  or  that,  the  reply  has  invariably  been,  that 
they  dare  not.    In  fact,  to  keep  their  station  in  society,  they 
must  be  slaves — not  merely  slaves,  for  we  are  all  so  far  slaves, 
that  if  we  do  that  which  is  not  right,  we  must  be  expelled  from 
it;  but  abject  and  cowardly  slaves,  who  dare  not  do  that  which 
is  innocent,  lest  they  should  be  misrepresented.     This  is  the 
cause  why  there  is  such   an  attention  to  the  outward  forms  of 
religion  in  the  United  States,  and  which  has  induced  some 
travellers  to  suppose  them  a  religious  people,  as  if  it  were  possi- 
ble that  any  real  religion  could  exist,  where  morality  is  at  so 
low  an  ebb.  When  I  first  went  to  Boston,  I  did  not  go  to  church 
on  the  following  day.     An  elderly  gentleman  called  upon  and 
pointed  out  to  me  that  I  had  omitted  this  duty  ;  "  but,"  continued 
he,  '*  I  have  had  it  put  into  one  of  the  newspapers  that  you 
attended  divine  service  at  such  a  church,  so  all  is  right."     All 
was  right;  yes,  all  was  right,  according  to  the  American's  ideas 
of  *'  all  was  right."     But  I  thought  at  the  time,  that  my  sin  of 
omission  was  much  more  venial  than  his  of  commission. 


« 


tl 


Whrn  at 
turned  a  fev 
waH  juftili*' 
^orsliip  (!xe 

The  pre^ 
society  in  o 
knowing  w 
intimacy  w 
cifily,  who 
general,  wl 
by  one  part 
another  tha 
be  on  their 
cause,  it  is 
son's  real  c 
rated,  so  tli 
credited 
with. 

Almost  a 
may  add   al 
principally 
there  is  no 
ties  to  acco 
against  his 

Inadverte 
will  immed 
be  industrio 
est  wretch  i 
due  cautior 
occurred  wi 
ceived  greal 
dined  at  his 
end,  at  a  < 
what  passec 
whose  nam( 
Louisville, 
Clay  at  his 
lated  agains 
very  good  o 
State,  and  i 
not  be  a  mo 
most  friendl 
I  had  forme 
high  was  tl 
circulated,  1 
the  subject, 
quitting  me 
and  they  w( 
it  might  be 


MARRYAT  S    DIART. 


63 


4 


Wlu'n  at  Detroit,  I  was  attacked  in  the  papers  because  I  re- 
lumed a  few  calls  on  a  Sunday.  I  mention  this,  not  because  I 
was  jui<titicd  in  so  doin^r,  but  because  1  wish  to  show  the  ccn- 
:sorship  (jxercised  in  this  very  moral  counlry. 

'I'he  prevalence  of  this  evil  acts  most  unfortunately  upon 
society  in  other  ways.  It  is  the  occasion  of  your  hardly  ever 
kiiowinir  whom  you  may,  or  whom  you  may  not  be  on  terms  of 
intimacy  with,  and  of  the  introduction  of  many  people  into  so- 
ciety, who  ou<jht  to  be  wholly  excluded.  Where  slander  is  so 
general,  when  in  the  space  of  five  minutes  you  will  be  itiformcd 
by  one  party,  that  Mr.  So  and  So  is  an  excellent  person,  and  by 
another  that  he  is  a  ^reat  scoundrel,  just  as  he  may  happen  to 
be  on  their  side  or  the  opposite,  in  politics,  or  from  any  other 
cause,  it  is  certain  that  you  must  be  embarrassed  as  to  tiie  per- 
son's real  character;  and  as  a  really  good  man  may  be  vitupe- 
rated, so  the  reports  against  one  who  is  unworthy,  are  as  little 
credited  :  the  fact  is,  you  never  know  who  you  are  in  company 
with. 

Almost  all  the  duels  which  are  so  frequent  in  America,  and  I 
may  add  all  the  assassinations  in  the  western  country,  arise 
principally  from  defamation.  The  law  gives  no  redress,  and 
there  is  no  other  way  of  checking  slander,  than  calling  the  par- 
ties to  account  for  it.  Every  man  is  therefore  ready  and  armed 
against  his  fellow. 

Inadvertently  affront  any  party,  wound  his  self-love,  and  he 
will  immediately  coin  some  malignant  report,  which  is  sure  to 
be  industriously  circulated.  You  are  at  the  mercy  of  the  mean- 
est wretch  in  the  country ;  for  although  praise  is  received  with 
due  caution,  slander  is  everywhere  welcomed.  An  instance 
occurred  with  respect  to  myself.  I  was  at  Lexington,  and  re- 
ceived great  kindness  and  civility  from  Mr.  Clay.  One  day  I 
dined  at  his  table  ;  there  was  a  large  party,  and  at  the  further 
end,  at  a  distance  where  he  could  not  possibly  have  heard 
what  passed  between  Mr.  Clay  and  me,  there  sat  a  young  man, 
whose  name  is  not  worth  mentioning.  When  he  returned  to 
Louisville,  he  spread  a  report  that  1  had  grossly  insulted  Mr. 
Clay  at  his  own  table.  Now  the  catalogue  of  enormities  circu- 
lated against  roe  was  already  so  extensive,  that  I  was  not  in 
very  good  odour;  but  Mr.  Clay  is  so  deservedly  the  idol  of  this 
State,  and  indeed  of  almost  the  whole  Union,  that  there  could 
not  be  a  more  serious  charge  against  me — even  those  who  were 
most  friendly  avoided  me,  saying,  they  could  forgive  me  what 
I  had  formerly  done,  but  to  insult  Mr.  Clay  was  too  bad.  So 
high  was  the  feeling,  and  so  industriously  was  the  calumny 
circulated,  that  at  last  I  was  compelled  to  write  to  Mr.  Clay  on 
the  subject,  and  I  received  in  return  a  most  handsome  letter,  ac- 
quitting me  of  the  malicious  charge.  This  I  showed  to  some, 
and  they  were  satisfied  ;  and  they  advised  me  to  print  it,  that 
it  might  be  better  known.    This  was  a  compliment  I  did  not 


I  >, 


!     I 


M'  I 


li. 


i! 


64 


MARRYAT  S    DIARY. 


*, 
1.'^' 


h 


choose  to  pay  them  ;  and  tl»e  impression  of  the  majority  sti/I  isj 
tliat  1  insulted  Mr.  Clay.  The  affair  being  one  of  the  many 
connected  with  myself,  I  should  not  have  mentioned  it,  excepJ 
to  prove  how  lijrhtly  such  a  practice  is  estimated. 

VVhatever  society  permits,  people  will  do,  and  moreover,  will 
not  think  that  tliey  are  wrong  in  so  doing.  In  England,  had  a 
person  been  guilty  of  a  deliberate  and  odious  lie,  he  would  have 
been  .scouted  from  society,  his  best  friends  would  have  cut  him  ; 
but  how  was  this  person  treated  for  his  conduct  ?  When  I 
showed  INIr.  ('lay's  letter,  one  said,  "  Well  now,  that  was  rery 
wrong  of  A." — Another,  "  1  did  not  believe  that  A.  would  have 
done  so" — A  third,  "  that  A.  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  himself;'* 
but  they  did  not  one  of  them,  on  account  of  this  falsehood,  think 
it  necessary  to  avoid  him.  On  the  contrary,  he  was  walking 
arm-in-arm  with  the  men,  dancing  and  flirting  with  the  women 
just  as  before,  although  his  slander,  and  the  refutation  of  it,  were 
both  well  known. 

The  reader  will  now  perceive  the  great  moral  evil  arising 
from  this  vice,  which  is,  that  it  habituates  people  to  falsehood. 
'I'he  lie  of  slander,  is  the  basest  of  all  lies  ;  wini  the  practice  of 
it,  the  most  demoralizing  to  the  human  heart.  Those  who  will 
descend  to  snch  deliberate  and  malignant  falsehood,  will  not 
scruple  at  any  other  description.  The  consequence  is,  that  what 
the  Americans  have  been  so  often  taxed  with,  is  but  too  preva- 
lent, "a  disregard  to  truth.'*'' 

To  what  must  we  ascribe  the  great  prevalence  of  this  demo- 
ralizing habit  in  the  United  States  1  That  the  licentiousness  of 
the  press  feeds  it,  it  is  true;  but  I  am  rather  inclined  to  imagine 
that  the  real  source  of  it  is  to  be  found  in  the  peculiarity  of  their 
institutions.  Under  a  democracy,  there  are  but  two  means  by 
which  a  man  can  rise  above  his  fellows — wealth  and  character; 
and  when  all  are  equal,  and  each  is  struggling  to  rise  above  the 
other,  it  is  to  the  principle  that  if  you  cannot  rise  above  another 
by  your  own  merit,  you  can  at  least  so  far  equalize  your  condi- 
tion by  pulling  him  down  to  your  own  level,  that  this  inordinate 
appetite  for  defamation  must  be  ascribed.  It  is  a  state  of  un- 
generous warfare,  arising  from  there  being  no  gradation,  no 
scale,  no  discipline,  if  I  may  use  the  term,  in  society.  Every  one 
asserts  his  equality,  and  at  the  same  time  wishes  to  rise  above 
his  fellows  :  and  society  is  in  a  stale  of  perpetual  and  disgrace- 
ful scullle.  Mr.  Tocqueville  says,  "There  exists  in  the  hu- 
man heart  a  depraved  taste  for  equality,  which  impels  the  weak 
to  attempt  to  lower  the  powerful  to  their  own  level,  and  induces 
men  to  prefer  equality  in  slavery  to  inequality  with  freedom." 

In  po!  itics,  especial  ly,  character  becomes  of  much  more  import- 
ance than  wealth,  and  if  a  man  in  public  life  can  once  be  ren- 
dered odious,  or  be  made  suspected,  he  loses  his  supporters, and 
there  is  one  antagonist  reirioved  in  the  race  for  pre-eminence. 
iSuch  is  one  of  the  lamentable  defects  arising  from  a  dem.ocrati- 


marrtat's  diary. 


65 


I   f 


hu- 


cal  form  of  Government.  How  different  from  Ennrland,  and  the 
settled  nations  of  the  old  world,  where  it  may  be  said  that 
everything  and  everybody  is  comparatively  speaking  in  his 
place  ! 

Althouorh  many  will,  and  may  justifiably,  attempt  to  rise 
beyond  his  circumstances  and  birth,  still  there  is  orderand  regu- 
larity ;  each  party  knows  the  precise  round  in  the  ladder  on 
which  he  stands,  and  the  majority  are  content  with  their 
position. 

It  is  lamentable  to  observe  how  many  bad  feelings,  how  many 
evil  passions,  are  constantly  in  a  state  of  activity  from  this 
unfortunate  chaotical  want  of  gradation  and  discipline,  where  all 
would  be  tirst,  and  every  one  considers  himself  as  good  as  his 
neighbour. 

The  abtre-mentioned  author  observes — 

•'  The  surface  of  American  society  is,  if  I  may  use  the  expres- 
sion, covered  with  a  layer  of  democracy,  from  beneath  which 
the  aristocratic  colours  sometimes  peep." 

In  a  moral  sense,  this  is  also  t/ue,  the  nobler  virtues  which 
are  chiefly  produced  in  the  fertile  field  of  aristocracy  do  occa- 
sionally appear;  but  the  whole  surface  is  covered  with  a  layer 
of  democracy,  which  like  the  lava  which  the  volcano  continually 
belches  forth,  has  gradually  poured  down,  and  reduced  the 
country  round  it  to  barrenness  and  sterility.* 

*  This  chapter  was  in  the  press,  when  a  paragraph,  cut  out  of  the 
Baltimore  Chronicle,  was  received  from  an  anonymous  hand  at  New 
York.  Whether  with  a  friendly  intention  or  otherwise,  I  am  equally 
oliJiGTcd  to  the  party,  as  it  enables  me  to  further  prove,  if  it  were 
necessary,  the  vituperation  of  the  American  press. 

"  Many  persons  in  our  country  had  an  opportunity  of  becominj^ 
acquainted  with  the  Captain.  The  fast-anchored  isle  never  gave 
birtii  to  a  more  unmitigated  blackguard.  His  awkward,  unwieldly 
misshapen  body,  was  but  a  fair  lodging  for  a  low,  depraved,  licentious 
soul.  Although  liberally  educated,  he  seemed  insensible  to  any  other 
enjoyments  iiian  those  of  sense.  No  human  being  could  in  his  de- 
sires or  habits  approach  more  near  to  the  animal  than  him.  No 
gentleman  ever  sat  down  with  him  an  hour  without  a  sensation  of 
loathing  and  disgust.  'What  kind  of  man  is  Captain  Marryat?' 
was  once  asked  in  our  presence  of  a  distinguished  member  of  Con- 
•Tfess,  who  had  sojourned  with  him  at  the  White  Sulphur  Springs. 
'  He  is  no  man  at  all,'  was  the  reply,  '  he  is  a  beast.'  " 

This  is  really  "  going  the  whole  hog"  himself,  and  making  me  go 
it  too.  Now,  if  I  reerivc  such  abuao  for  my  first  three  volumes,  in 
which  I  went  into  little  or  no  analysis,  what  am  I  to  expect  for  those 
which  are  about  to  appear  1  To  the  editor  of  the  Baltimore  Chroni- 
cle /  feel  indebted :  but  I  suspect  that  the  respectable  portion  of  tho 
American  community  will  be  very  much  annoyed  at  my  thus  giving 
his  remarks  more  extensive  circulation  than  he  anticipated. 

6» 


•  -M 


'    f 


t 

■» 

i  ' 


4  . 


li 


t.  ► 


66 


marryat's  diary. 


:f^ 


!' 


t^ 


CHAPTKR  VII. 


AUTHORS,  ETC. 


The  best  specimens  of  American  writintj  are  to  be  found  in 
their   polilicul  articles,  which  are,  jjenerally  speaking,  clear, 
argumentative,  and  well  arranged.     The  President's  annual  mes- 
sage is  always  masterly  in  composition,  although  disgraced  by 
its  servile  adulation  of  the  majority.     If  we  vvere  to  judge  of  the 
de<rrees  of  enlightment  of  the  tivo  countries,  America  and  Enjj- 
lind,  by  the  President's  message  and  the  King's  speech,  we 
should  be  left  immeiisurably  in  the  back-ground — the  message, 
generally  speaking,  being  a  model  of  composition,  while  the 
speech  is  but  loo  often  a  farrago  of  bad  English.    This  is  very 
strange,  as  those  who  concoct  the  speech  are  of  usually  mucli 
higher  classical  attainments  than  those  who  write  the  message. 
The  only  way  to  account  for  it,  is,  that  in  the  attempt  to  con- 
dense the  speech,  they  pare  and  pare  away  till  the  sense  of  it  is  al- 
most gone ;  his  Majesty's  ministers  perfectly  understanding  what 
they  mean  themselves,  but  forgetting  that  it  is  necessary  that 
others  should  do  the  same.     But  in  almost  all  branches  of  liter- 
ature the  Americans  have  no  cause  to  be  displeased  with  the 
labours  of  their  writers,  c«  .isidering  that  they  have  the  disad- 
vantage of  America  look;ng  almost  entirely  to  the  teeming  press 
of  England  for  their  regular  supply,  ami  howfew  in  thatcountrj" 
can  be  said  at  present  to  be  men  of  leisure  and  able  to  devote 
themselves  to  the  pursuit.     An  author  by  profession  would  gain 
but  a  sorry  livelihood  in  the  United  States,  unless  he  happened 
to  be  as  deservedly  successl'ul  as  Washington  Irving  or  Cooper. 
He  not  only  has  to  compete  against  the  best  English  authors, 
but  as  almost  all  the  English  works  are  published  without  any 
sum  being  paid  for  the  copyright,  it  is  evident  that  he  must  sell 
his  work  at  a  higher  price  if  he  is  to  obtain  any  profit.     An 
English  work  of  fiction,  for  instance,  is  soM  at  a  dollar  and  a 
quarter,  while  an  American  one  costs  two  dollars. 

This  circumstance  would  alone  break  down  the  American 
literature  if  it  were  not  for  the  generosity  of  England  in  granting 
their  authors  a  copyright  in  this  country  ;  indeed,  the  American 
public  pay  that  tacit  compliment  to  us  that  they  will  hardly  look 
at  a  work  by  one  of  their  own  citizens,  until  it  has  first  been 
published  in  England,  and  received  the  stamp  of  approbaUoii. 
Those  American  authors  who  have  obtained  a  reputation  look, 
therefore,  chiefly  to  the  English  copyright  for  remuneration;  and 
if  it  were  not  for  this  liberality  on  our  part,  the  American  litera- 
ture would  not  receive  sufficient  support  from  its  own  country 
to  make  it  worth  the  while  of  any  one  to  engage  in  it.  Thn 
number  of  English  works  republished  in  America  is  very  great. 


I 


t' 


marrvat's  diary. 


67 


ly  look 
t  been 
batioii. 
look, 
ami 
litora- 
jouutrv 

great. 


b.it  the  number  of  each  work  sold  is  inucii  emaller  than  people 
here  imagined. 

The  periodical  literature  of  the  United  States  is  hirrbly  crcdi- 
tible.  Tiie  American  Quarterly  Review;  the  New  York  Mir- 
ror, by  George  I'.  Morris;  the  Knickerbocker,  by  Clarke;  and 
the  Monthly  Magazine;  all  published  at  New  York,  are  very 
good;  so,  indeed,  are  the  magazines  published  at  I'hilndelphia, 
and  many  others.  It  may  be  said  that,  upon  the  whole,  the 
periodical  press  of  America  is  pretty  well  on  a  par  with  that  of 
this  country.  Periodical  literature  suits  the  genius  of  the 
Americans,  and  it  is  better  supported  by  them  tlian  any  other 
description. 

The  Americans  are  jealous  of  our  literature,  as   they  are. 
indeed,  of  everything  coimectod   with  this  country;  but  thev 
do  themselves  injustice  in  this  respect,  as  I  consider  that  they  have 
a  very  fair  proportion  of  gocxl  writers.     In  history,  and  the  heavier 
branches  of  literature,  they  have  the  names  of  Sparks,  Prescott,  Ban- 
croft, Schoolcraft,  IJutler,  Carey,  Pitkin,  &c.     In  general  litera- 
ture, they  have  Washington  Irving,  Fay,  Hall,  Willis,  Sanderson. 
Sedgwick,  Leslie,  Stephens,  Child  and  Neal.     In  fiction,  they 
have  Cooper,  Paulding,  Bird,  Kennedy,  Thomas,  Ingrahain,  and 
many  others.     They,  notwithstanding  the  musquitoes,  have  pro- 
duced   some    very   good   poets:    Bryant,    Ilalleck,    Sigourney, 
Drake,  &:c. ;  and  have  thoy  not,  with  a  host  of  polemical  writers. 
Dr.  Channing,  one  of  their  greatest  men,  and  from   his  moral 
courage  in  pointing  out  their  errors,  the  best  friend  to  his  country 
that  America  has  ever  priMluced !     Indeed,  to  these   names  we 
might  fairly  add  their  legal  writers — C'hancellor  Kent  and  Judge 
Story,  as  well  as  Webster,  Ckiy,  Everett,  Cass,  and  otheiv,  who 
are  better  known  from  their  great  political  reputations  than  from 
their  writings.     Considering  that  they  have  but  half  our  popula- 
tion, and  not  a  quarter  of  the  time  to  spare  that  we  have  in  this 
country,  the  Americans  have  no  want  of  good  writers,  although 
there  arc  few  of  them  well  known  to  the  British  public.     It  must 
be  pointed  out  that  the  American  writers  are  under  another  dis- 
advantage; which  we  are  not  subject  to  in  this  country,  which  is. 
that  freedom  of  opinion  is  not  permitted  to  them ;  the  majority 
will  not  allow  it,  except  on  points  of  religion,  and  in  them  they 
may  speculate  as  much  as  they  please,  and  publish  their  opinions, 
whether  Deistical,  Atheistical,  or  worse,  if  they  can  find  worse 
out.     It  is  true  than  an  author  may,  and  some  will,  publish  what 
they  please,  but  if  he  does  not  wish  to  lose  his  popularity,  and 
thereby  lose  his  profits,  he  must  not  only  not  offend,  but  he  must 
conciliate  and  flatter  tlie  nation:  and  such  is  the  practice  with 
the  majority  of  American  authors.     Whether  it  be  a  work  of 
fiction  or  one  of  history  his  countrymen  must  be  praised,  and,  it 
It  be  possible  to  introduce  it,  there  must  be  some  abuse  of  Eng- 
land.    This  fact  will  account  for  the  waning  popularity  of  Mr. 
Cooper ;  ha  has  ventured  to  tell  his  countrymea  the  truth  in 


:t  ' 


t 


^^ 


68 


MARRYAT  S    DIARY. 


lifr 


1 1 


!1 

in 


it 


more  than  of  his  later  works,  and  now  the  majority  are  against 
him.  The  work,  which  I  have  often  quoted  in  these  pages, 
called  "The  Democrat,"  fell  dead  from  the  press.  I  think  it 
fortunate  for  Mr.  Cooper  that  it  did,  as  people  have  been  lynched 
who  have  not  said  half  so  much  as  he  did  in  that  work.  His 
"  Naval  History"  will  reinstate  him,  and  I  suspect  it  has  been 
taken  up  with  that  view,  for,  although  Mr.  Cooper  has  shown  a 
good  deal  of  moral  courage,  he  has  not  remained  consistent.  At 
one  moment  he  publishes  "  The  Democrat,"  and  gives  his  coun- 
trymen a  good  whipping,  and  then  he  publishes  his  "Naval  His- 
tory," and  soft  sawders  them.  But,  with  the  exception  of  Dr. 
Channing,  he  almost  stands  alone  in  this  particular. 

One  ot  the  best  authors  of  America  is  Judge  Hall ;  he  proves 
himself  by  his  writings  to  be  a  shrewd,  intelligent  man,  and 
yet  in  his  "  Statistics  of  the  West "  I  was  surprised  to  find  the 
following  paragraph,  the  substance  of  which  was  more  than  once 
repealed  in  the  work.  Speaking  of  the  Indian  hostilities,  he 
says : — 

"The  mother  country  (England)  never  ceased  to  indulge  in 
the  hope  of  reuniting  the  colonies  (that  is  the  United  States)  to 
her  empire,  until  the  war  of  eighteen  hundred  and  twelve  crushed 
the  last  vestige  of  her  delusive  anticipations." 

Such  is  his  preposterous  assertion,  the  absurdity  of  which 
will  make  an  Englishmati  laugh  ;  but  thecorolJaries  drawn  from 
it  are  sr.ious,  as  they  are  intended  to  feed  the  hostile  feeling 
still  existing  against  this  country  ;  for  he  attempts  to  prove  that 
from  the  time  the  Independence  was  ratified  by  George  HI.  that 
we  have  ever  been  trying  to  reduce  America  again  to  our  sway  ; 
and  that  all  the  hostile  attempts  of  the  various  Indian  tribes,  all 
the  murders  of  women  and  children,  and  scalping,  since  that 
date,  were  wholly  to  be  ascribed  to  the  agency  and  bribes  of 
England,  who  hoped  by  such  means  to  drive  the  Americans 
back  to  the  sea  coast,  where  they  could  be  assailed  by  her 
navy. 

A  little  reflection  might  satisfy  any  reasonable  American, 
that  when  they  wrestled  by  main  force,  and  without  regard  to 
justice,  those  lands  from  the  Indians  which  they  had  hunted 
over  for  so  many  generations,  and  which  were  their  own  pro- 
perty, it  was  very  natural  that  the  Indians  should  not  surrender 
them  without  a  struggle.  But  the  wish  of  Judge  Hall  was  to 
satisfy  his  countrymen  that  their  exterminating  wars  against 
the  Indians  have  been  thoseofse/fdejhice,  and  not  o^  unpardon- 
able ag!>;ression.  At  that  period  there  were  many  white  men 
who  had  either  joined,  or,  having  Iieen  captured,  had  been 
adopted  into,  the  Indian  tribes.  All  these  Judge  Hall  would 
make  out  to  be  English  emissaries,  especially  one  whom  he 
very  correctly  designates  as  the  "  infamous  Girty.^^  Unfortu- 
nately for  Judge  Hall  the  infamous  Girty  was  an  American,  and 
born  in  Philadelphia,  as  is  proved  by  American  authority. 


( 


This 
Ihem  alo 
in  Enyl 
offensive 
not  print 
narrows 
the  penp 
up  to  tilt 
thus  the 

The  rd 
as  all  h 
Where  i 
certain  it 
America 

"  It  is 
arrive  in 
cliques  i 
the  medi 
presental 
opinions 
estimatec 
their  owt 
the  grate 

"This 
found  in 
sions  as  t 
women. 

"  She  ( 
does  our  I 
publicatic 
best  wor 
('ooper  '1 
unwarrar 
the  reput 

Such  \ 
termed  t 
oracles  \ 
America, 
More  is  I 

She  sa 
has  neve 
be.  In  J 
and  she 
too  Iwld  1 
best  socii 
rooms  on 
the  table 

Siie  SJ 


MARRYAT  S   DIARY. 


69 


This  obliiration  to  wrifn  for  their  own  countrymrn,  anrl  for 
them  alone,  has  very  mu("h  injured  the  sale  of  American  works 
in  Kn^land,  for  publishers  having  read  them  find  no  many 
otiensive  and  untrue  remarks  upon  this  country,  that  they  will 
not  print  ihrm.  Uut  it  does  more  harm,  as  it  cramps  t^enius, 
narrows  their  idear,,  and  instead  of  leadinjj  in  the  advance,  and 
the  people  lookinnr  up  to  them,  they  follow  in  the  rear,  and  look 
up  to  the  people,  whom  they  Hatter  to  obtain  popularity;  and 
thus  the  pen  in  America,  as  a  moral  weapon,  is  at  present  *'nit/- 

The  remarks  of  Miss  Martineau  on  American  literature  are, 
as  all  her  other  remarks,  to  be  received  with  great  caution. 
Where  she  obtained  her  information  I  know  very  well,  and 
certain  it  is  that  she  has  been  most  egregiously  deceived.  An 
American  critic  observes  very  truly  : — 

"  It  is  the  misfortune  of  professed  book  writers,  when  they 
arrive  in  the  United  States,  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  certain 
cli(|ues  in  our  principal  cities  and  town,  who  make  themselves 
the  medium  of  interpretation — their  own  modes  of  life,  the  re- 
presentation of  those  of  the.  elite  of  the  country  ;  their  own 
opinions,  the  infallible  criterion  by  which  all  others  must  be 
estimated.  They  surround  the  traveller  with  an  atmosphere  of 
their  ow  n,  and  hope  to  shine  through  it  on  the  future  pages  of 
the  grateful  guest. 

"This  accounts  satisfactorily  for  many  things  which  are  to  be 
found  in  Miss  Martineau's  work,  for  her  numerous  misapprehen- 
sions as  to  the  character,  taste,  and  occupations  of  the  American 
women. 

"  She  evidently  mistakes  the  character  of  our  merchants,  and 
does  our  literature  but  meagre  jsistice.  To  hold  up  some  obscure 
publications  from  the  pens  of  mere  literary  adventurers  as  the 
beat  works  she  has  seen,  and  at  the  same  time  pronounce  Mr. 
('ooper  'a  much  regretted  failure,'  is  a  stretch  of  boldness,  quite 
unwarranted  by  anything  Miss  Martineau  has  yet  achieved  in 
the  republic  of  letters." 

Such  was  really  the  case;  Miss  Martineau  fell  into  what  was 
termed  the  Slockbridge  clique,  and  pinned  her  faith  upon  the 
oracles  which  they  poured  into  her  ears.  She  says  that  in 
America,  Hannah  More  is  best  known;  on  the  contrary,  Ilunnah 
More  is  hardly  known  in  the  United  States. 

Sjic  says  that  Wordsworth  is  much  read.  Mr.  Wordsworth 
has  never  even  in  this  country  been  appreciated  as  lie  ought  to 
bo.  In  America  it  may  almost  be  said  that  he  has  not  been  read ; 
and  she  adds  to  this,  that  Byron  is  little  known ;  this  is  really 
too  l)old  an  assertion.  Miss  Martineau  was  everywhere  in  the 
best  society  in  America;  and  I  believe  that  in  nine  drawing- 
rooms  out  often,  she  must  have  seen  a  copy  of  Byron  lying  on 
the  table. 

She  says  Mr.  Cooper  is  a  failure.    With  the  exception  of 


Mi'^ 


'  \r% 


70 


marryat's  diary. 


h 

i- 

1 

I. 

]' 

4 

tV 

•H 

1 

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1 

■i 
,1 

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•1    ! 

■?i  i 


!i 


Washington  Irving,  there  never  was  an  American  writer  so 
justly  popular  in  America  as  ('ooper.  It  is  true  that  latterly'hp 
has  displeased  the  majority,  by  pointing  out  to  them  their  taultB, 
and  that  he  is  not  always  in  a  good  humour  when  he  wrilej* 
about  England.  But  to  state  the  author  of  such  works  as  the 
Pilot,  the  Last  of  the  Mohicans,  and  the  Prairie,  a  failure,  is 
really  too  absurd.  The  cause  of  this  remark  is  said  to  be  thai 
had  a  quarrel  with  Miss  Martineau's  particular 
There  is  only  one  remark  in  the  whole  of 
whicli  is  in  itself  true.     She  says  Bulwer  is 


Mr.  Cooper 
friend  Mr.  S 


her  observations 

much  read.  Here  she  is  correct :  but  the  cause  which  she  gives 
for  his  being  so  much  read,  is  not  the  real  one.  She  asserts  it  is 
on  account  of  his  liberal  opinions;  it  is  not  on  that  account,  it  is 
from  the  interest  of  his  stories,  and  the  beauty  of  his  writing. 

But  the  assertion  that  seemed  to  me  the  most  strange  in  Miss 
Martineau's  work,  was,  that  Mr.  Carlisle,  the  author  of  Sartor 
Resartus,  was  the  most  read  of  any  English  autlior.  Without 
intending  to  depreciate  the  works  of  Mr.  Carlisle,  I  felt  con- 
vinced from  my  own  knowledge,  that  this  could  not  be  a  fact, 
for  Mr.  Carlisle's  works  are  not  suited  to  the  Americans.  1, 
therefore,  determined  to  ascertain  how  far  it  was  correct.  I 
went  to  the  publishers,  and  inquired  how  many  of  Mr.  Carlisle's 
works  had  been  printed.  They  replied  that  they  had  printed 
one  edition  of  six  hundred  copies,  which  they  had  nearly  sold ; 
and  were  considering  whether  it  would  be  worth  their  while  to 
print  a  second  ;  and  in  consequence  of  Miss  Martineau's  asser- 
tion, that  Byron  was  little  known,  1  applied  to  the  largest  pub- 
lishers in  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  to  ascertain,  if  I  could, 
how  many  copies  of  Byron  had  been  published.  Tfie  reply  was, 
that  it  was  impossible  to  say  exactly,  as  there  had  been  so  many 
editions  issued,  by  so  many  different  publishers,  but  that  they 
considered  that  irom  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred 
thousand  copies,  must  have  been  sold !  so  much  tor  the  accu- 
racy of  Miss  Martineau.* 

I  am  afraid,  that  notwithstanding  the  eloquent  and  energetic 
exertions  of  the  author  of  "  Ion,"  we  shall  never  be  able  to  make 
the  public  believe  that  the  creations  of  a  man's  brain  are  his  own 
property,  or  effect  any  arrangement  with  foreign  countries,  so  as 
to  secure  a  copyright  to  the  English  author.  As  on  my  arrival 
in  America  it  was  reported  in  the  newspapers  that  I  had  come 

*  Miss  Martineau  talks  of  Dr.  Follett  as  one  of  the  greatest  men 
in  America.  I  was  surpiscd  at  this,  as  I  never  heard  of  his  name, 
so  I  inquired—"  Who  is  Dr.  Follett  1"  •'  I  don't  know."—"  Do  you 
know  Dr.  Follett  ?"  "  Never  heard  of  him."—"  Do  you  ?"  "  No." 
I  asked  so  many  people  that  at  last  I  became  quite  tired ;  at  last  I 
found  a  man  who  knew  him,  his  answer  was — "  Oh,  yes ;  he's  an 
Abolitionist .'"  As  the  American  critic  justly  observes,  "  He  shines 
in  the  future  pages  of  his  grateful  guest." 


out  to  a 
up  the 
fore,  cof 
an  inter 
the  saim 
The  { 
espouse! 
thing  w 
of  w  hie 
it,  and 
was  broi 


marryat's  diary. 


71 


vriter  so 
tterly'he 
:ir  faults, 
le  writes 
ks  as  the 
iiilure,  is 
0  be  that 
larticular 
whole  of 
Julwer  is 
slie  gives 
iserts  it  is 
)unt,  it  is 
•iting'. 
3  in  Miss 
of  Sartor 
Without 
felt  con- 
be  a  fact, 
cans.     I, 
irrect.     I 
Carlisle's 
d  printed 
irly  sold ; 
while  to 
u's  asser- 
gest  pub- 
f  I  could, 
eply  was, 
so  many 
hat  they 
hundred 
16  accu- 

inergetic 
to  make 
his  own 
es,  so  as 
y  arrival 
ad  come 

test  men 
IS  name, 
*  Do  you 
"i\o." 
at  last  I 
he's  an 
e  shines 


out  to  ascertain  what  could  be  done  in  that  respect,  and  to  follow 
up  the  petition  of  the  ?]nglish  authors.  The  subject  was,  there- 
fore, constantly  introduced  and  canvassed  ;  and  I  naturally  took 
an  interest  in  it.  Every  one  almost  was  for  granting  it;  but,  at 
the  same  time,  every  one  told  mo  that  wo  should  not  obtain  it. 

ThepetJion  of  the  English  authors  to  Congreys  was  warmly 
espoused  by  Mr.  Clay,  who  invariably  leads  the  van  in  every- 
thing which  is  liberal  and  gentlemanlike.  A  select  committee, 
of  which  Mr.  Clay  was  chairman,  was  formed  to  consider  upon 
it,  and  the  following  was  the  result  of  their  inquiry,  and  a  bill 
was  brought  in,  upon  the  report  of  the  committee  : — 

"  In  Senate  of  the  United  Sta'es,  Feb.  16,  1887. 
•*  Mr.  Clay  made  the  following  report- 

**  The  select  committee  to  whom  «  ^s  referred  the  address  of 
certain  British  and  the  petition  of  c.  Miin  Amcican  authors, 
have,  according  to  order,  had  the  same  under  consideration,  and 
beg  leave  now  to  report : 

"  That,  by  the  act  of  Congress  of  185^1,  being  the  law  now  in 
force  regulating  copyrights,  the  benefits  of  the  act  are  restricted 
to  citizens  or  residents  of  the  United  Slates ;  sc  that  no  foreigner, 
residing  abroad,  can  secure  a  copyright  in  the  United  States  for 
any  work  of  which  he  is  the  author,  however  important  or  valu- 
able it  may  be.  The  object  of  the  address  and  petition,  there- 
fore, is  to  remove  this  re.stricti(m  as  to  British  authors,  and  to 
allow  them  to  enjoy  the  benefits  of  our  law. 

"  That  authors  and  inventors  have,  according  to  the  practice 
among  civilized  nations,  a  property  in  the  respective  productions 
of  their  genius  is  incontcstible;  and  that  this  property  should  he 
protected  as  cficctually  as  any  other  property  is,  by  law,  follows 
as  a  legitimate  consequence.     Authors  and  inventors  are  among 
llic  greatest  benefactors  of  mankind.    They  are  otlen  dependent, 
exclusively,  upon  their  own  mental  labours  for  the  means  of 
subsistence ;  and  are  frequently,  from  the  nature  of  their  pur- 
suits, or  the  constitutions  of  their  minds,  incapable  of  applying 
that  provident  care  to  worldly  affairs  which  other  classes  of 
society  are  in  the  habit  <if  bestowing.     These  considerations 
ffivo  additional  strength  to  their  just  title  to  the  protection  of  the 
law. 

"  It  being  established  that  literary  property  is  entitled  to  legal 
protection,  it  results  that  this  protection  ought  to  be  afibrded 
wiierever  the  property  is  situated.  A  British  merchant  brings 
or  transmits  to  the  United  States  a  bale  of  merchandize,  and  the 
moment  it  comes  within  the  jurisdiction  of  our  laws  they  throwr 
around  it  efTectual  .security.  But  if  the  work  of  a  British  author 
IS  brought  to  the  United  States,  it  may  be  appropriated  by  any 
resident  here,  and  republished,  without  any  compensation  what- 
ever being  made  to  the  author.  We  should  be  all  shocked  if 
the  law  tolerated  the  least  invasion  of  the  rights  of  property,  in 
the  case  of  the  merchandize,  whilst  those  which  justly  belong  to 


I; 


i  •  f 


;  fl 


7'> 


marryat's  DIARir. 


,«p. 


v\. 


the  works  of  authors  are  exposed  to  daily  violation,  without  the 
possibility  of  their  invokinir  the  aid  of  the  lawH. 

"'J'he  cointnittee  think  that  this  distinction  in  the  condition  of 
the  two  descriptions  of  property  is  not  just ;  and  that  it  oujifht  to 
be  remedied  by  some  s;itt)  and  cautious  amendment  of  the  law. 
Already  the  principle  has  been  adopted  in  the  patent  laws,  of 
extondinjr  their  benefits  to  forcig-n  inventions  and  improvements, 
it  is  but  carrying  out  the  same  principle  to  extend  the  benefit 
of  our  copyriorht  laws  to  foreirrn  authors.  In  relation  to  the 
siibjfjct  of  Great  Britain  and  France,  it  will  bo  but  a  measure  of 
reciprocal  justice;  for,  in  bolh  of  those  countries,  our  authors 
may  enjoy  that  proteotion  of  their  laws  for  literary  property 
which  is  denied  to  their  subjects  here. 

♦*  Entertaining  these  views,  the  committee  have  been  anxious 
to  devise  some  measure  which,  without  too  ftreat  a  disturbance 
of  interests  or  alTectinjr  too  seriously  arrangements  which  have 
grown  out  of  the  present  state  of  thintrs,  niay,  without  hazard, 
be  subjected  to  the  test  of  practical  experience.  Of  the  works 
which  have  heretofore  issued  from  the  foreiijn  press,  many  have 
already  been  republished  in  the  United  Stales;  others  are  in  a 
progress  of  republication,  and  some  probably  have  been  stereo- 
typed. A  copyright  law  which  should  embrace  any  of  these 
works,  might  injuriously  alfeci  American  publishers,  and  lead 
to  collision  and  litigation  between  them  and  foreign  authors. 

"Acting,  then,  on  the  principles  of  prudence  and  caution,  by 
which  the  committee  have  thought  it  best  to  be  governed,  the 
bill  which  the  committee  intend  proposing  provides  that  the 
protection  which  it  secures  shall  extend  to  those  works  only 
which  shall  be  published  after  its  passage.  It  is  also  limited 
to  the  subjects  of  Great  Britain  and  France;  among  other 
reasons,  because  the  committee  have  information  that,  by  their 
laws,  American  authors  can  obtain  there  protection  for  their 
productions;  but  they  have  no  information  that  such  is  the  case 
in  any  other  foreign  country.  But,  in  principle,  the  committee 
perceive  tio  objection  to  considering  the  republic  of  letters  as 
one  great  community,  and  adopting  a  system  of  protection  for 
literary  property  which  shoula  be  common  to  all  parts  of  it. 
The  bill  also  provides  that  an  American  edition  of  the  foreign 
work  for  which  an  American  copyright  has  been  obtained, 
shall  be  published  within  reasonable  time. 

"If  the  bill  should  pass,  its  operation  in  this  country  would 
be  to  leave  the  public,  without  any  charge  for  copyright,  in  the 
undisturbed  possession  of  all  scientific  and  literary  works  pub- 
lished pr'jr  to  its  passage — in  other  words,  the  great  mass  of 
the  scirr.ce  and  literature  of  the  world  ;  and  to  entitle  the  British 
or  French  author  only  to  the  benefit  of  every  copyright  in  re- 
spect to  works  which  may  be  published  subsequent  to  the  pas- 
sage of  the  law. 

"The  committee  cannot  anticipate  any  reasonable  or  just  ob- 


jection to 
deed,  he  c 
chargpil  w 
into  the  \\< 
would  be  i 
no  means 
when  thi^ 
fully   an 
exlranrdin 
hurried  pu 
compptilio 
cheaply  a? 
prove  to  b 
pay  a  few 
by  which 
itself?     II 
tinn,  of  ini 
into  existe 
mittee  ihi 
would  not 
lions,  to  a 
tion  being 
the  bale  ol 
It;  and  he 
when  it  sc 
book  now 
preservatif 

"  With 
posed  bill, 
before  sta 
Congress 
by  securin 
elusive  riu 
is  no  limi 
country, 
object  of  t 
progress  o 
lar  country 
that  the  s 
genius,  in 
and  the  ai 
offers  to  tl 

"Thec( 
which  ace 

Let  it  n 
ported  hy 
of  it  espoii 
manner,  ir 
of  more  a( 


MARRY  AT  S    DIARY. 


73 


jpction  to  a  mpasure  thus  jjunrded  and  r»'stricted.  Ft  may,  in- 
deed, lie  onnfpnd(Ml,  and  it  is  possible  that  a  nrw  work,  when 
charjfed  with  the  expense  incident  ti)  the  enpyrii;ht,  may  come 
into  thp  hiinds  of  the  piirehaser  at  a  small  afivance  beyond  what 
wonid  be  its  price,  it' there  were  no  such  charixe;  but  this  is  by 
no  means  certain.  It  is,  on  the  contrary,  hiiihly  probable  that, 
when  the  American  pii!)lisber  has  adc(iuafe  time  to  issue  care- 
fnlly  an  edition  of  the  forei^-n  work,  without  inciirrinjr  the 
extraordinary  expense  which  he  ,  o\v  has  to  sustain  to  make  a 
hurried  publication  of  it,  and  toijiiiird  himself'a^rainst  dangerous 
oompetiiion.  he  wi'l  be  able  to  bring  it  into  the  market  as 
cheaply  as  if  the  I)ill  were  not  to  pass.  Miit,  if  that  should  not 
prove  to  be  the  case,  and  if  the  American  reader  should  have  to 
pay  a  few  cents  to  corni)ensat<'  the  author  for  composiiifT  a  work 
by  which  he  is  iristructed  and  profited,  would  it  not  be  just  in 
itself?  Mas  any  r-^ader  a  ri<4hl  to  the  use,  without  remunera- 
tion, of  iniellectu  II  productions  which  have  not  yet  hern  brouo[ht 
into  existence,  but  lie  buried  in  the  mind  of  genius'?  The  com- 
mittee think  not;  and  they  believi;  that  n)  American  citizen 
would  not  feel  it  quite  as  unjust,  in  reference  to  futurt;  publica- 
tions, to  a|)prcipriate  to  bitnself  their  use,  without  any  considera- 
tion beinnr  |)aid  to  ll.?ir  foreijrn  proprietor?,  as  he  would  to  take 
the  bale  of  mercbnulise,  in  th(^  case  stated,  without  payinij  for 
it ;  and  he  would  the  r>iore  readily  make  this  IriMinfj  contribution, 
when  it  secured  to  him,  instead  of  the  injperfect  and  slovenly 
l>ook  now  often  issued,  a  neat  and  valuable  work,  worthy  of 
preservation. 

"  With  respect  to  the  constitutional  power  to  pass  the  pro- 
posed bill,  'he  committee  entertain  no  doubt,  and  Compress,  as 
before  stated,  has  acttid  on  it.  'J'he  constitution  authorizes 
Conjrress  '  to  promote  the  progress  of  science  and  useful  arts, 
by  securing,  f)r  limited  times,  to  authors  and  inventors,  the  ex- 
clusive riijhl  to  their  respective  writings  and  discoveries.'  There 
is  na  limitation  of  the  power  to  natives  or  residents  of  this 
country.  Such  a  limitation  would  hav.^  been  hostile  to  the 
object  of  the  power  granted.  That  object  was  to  promote  the 
progress  of  science  and  useful  arts.  They  belong  to  no  particu- 
lar country,  but  to  mankind  generally,  And  it  cannot  be  doubted 
that  the  stimulus  which  it  w'as  intended  to  give;  to  mind  and 
genius,  in  other  wor(U,  the  promotion  of  the  pronress  of  science 
and  the  arts,  will  be  increased  by  the  motives  which  the  bill 
offers  to  the  inhabitants  of  Great  Britain  and  France. 

*'  The  com'.'ittee  (!on(!lude  by  asking  leave  to  introduce  the  Wll 
which  accompanies  this  report." 

Let  it  no«,  however,  be  supposed  that  Mr.  Clay  was  unsup- 
ported by  the  American  press;  on  the  contrary,  a  lar:je  portion 
of  it  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Knijlisb  author  in  the  most  liberal 
manner,  indeed  the  boon  itself,  if  granted,  would  in  reality  be 
of  more  advantage  to  America  than  to  us;  as  many  of  then^ 

7 


r  ' 


JMi 


f:  i 


li 


71 


maruyat's  DiAur. 


'h  ' 


if> 


h:  ii 


argued.  The  New  York  Daily  F^xprcss  observes,  ♦'  But  another 
great  evil  rcsultintj  from  the  present  law  is,  that  most  of  the 
writers  of  our  own  country  aro  ult«'rly  preclucied  from  advancing 
our  native  lileriiture,  since  they  can  derive  no  emolument  or 
eomfiensnliot)  lor  their  labours;  and  it  is  idle  to  urge  that  the 
Jevoiees  of  literature,  any  more  than  the  ingenious  artizan  or 
mechanic,  can  he  indilferent  to  llie  ultimate  advantages  which 
should  result  alike  to  both  from  the  diligent  use  and  studious 
application  of  their  mental  energies.  V\  e  patronize  and  read 
the  works  of  foreign  writers,  but  it  is  at  the  exjiense  of  our  own, 
— the  books  of  the  English  author  being  procured  free  of  all 
cost,  supersede  those  wliich  would  otherwise  be  produced  by 
our  own  countrymen, — thus  the  forc^igneris  wronged,  while  the 
same  wrong  acts  again  as  a  tariff  upon  our  American  author: — 
and  nil  this  manifest  injury  is  perpetuated  without  its  being 
qualified  by  the  most  remote  advantage  to  any  of  the  parties 
concerned." 

The  [Joston  Atlas  re&pondcd  to  this  observation  i<n  almost  th 
same  lannuase. 

"This  systematic,  legalized  depredation  on  Knglish  authors, 
is  perfectly  ruinous  to  all  native  literature.  What  writer  can 
devote  hitnself  to  a  literary  work,  which  he  must  offer  on  its 
oomph  tion,  in  competition  with  a  work  of  the  same  description, 
perhaps,  furnishing />r//</fr/  co/ri/  to  the  compositors,  and  to  be 
had  for  the  expense  of  a  single  Lon<lon  copy.  What  publisher 
would  give  its  worth  for  a  novel,  in  manuscript,  supposing  it  to 
be  equal  to  Hulwer's  best,  when  he  would  gel  a  novel  of  Bulwer 
himself,  for  a  few  shillings — with  an  Knglish  reputation  at  the 
back  of  it?  'i'his  is  the  great  reason  that  we  have  so  few  works 
illustrative  of  our  own  history — whether  of  fact  or  fiction.  Ou 
booksellers  are  supplied  for  nothing." 

I  extract  the  following  from  a  very  excellent  article  on  the 
subject,  in  the  North  American  Review. 

"  Another  bad  consequence  of  the  existing  state  fif  things  is, 
that  the  choice  of  books,  which  shall  be  offered  us,  is  in  the 
wrong  hands.     Our  publishers  have,  to  no  small  extent,  the  di- 
rection of  our  reading,  inasmuch  as  they  make  the  selection  o 
books  for  reprinting.     They,  of  course,  will  choose  thf)se  works 
which  will  command  the  readiest  and  most  extensive  sale;  bu 
it  nmst  be  remembered,  that  in  so  doing,  while  they  answer  the 
demand  of  the  most  numerous  class  of  readers,  they  neglect  the 
wants  of  the  more  cultivated  and  intelligent  class.     Besides 
his,  there  are  many  admirable  works,  which  might  come  into 
general  use  if  they  were  presented  to  our  reading  public,  but 
which  are  left  unnoticed   by  the   publishers,  because  their  suc- 
ress  is  doubtful.     Supposing  Abbott's  *  Young  Christian,'  for 
irtstancc,  a  book  which  lias  had  a  more  extensive  circulation  than 
any  work  of  the  present  times,  had  been  first  published  in  Eng- 
land, at  the  same  moment  that  a  good  novel  appeared,  ihe  Ameri' 


canpubli 
of  the    n 
book,  till 
then,  if  .s 
to  sril  1)1 
"  Nor 
angmeiiti 
retneuihi 
into  the 
if  Engl 
I)egin  to 
become 
standan 
,     raised,. 
\     sotnevolu 
,     than  to  pa 
^     be  worth  t; 
i     finally,  th 
1     will,  wo  I 
persons  a 
Neveri. 
side  of  iht 
have  inseri 


I 


'! 


is 
I  w 

SI 


It 


h 


♦  "  Thk 
most  itnftori 
for  some  tju 
critical,  acct 
upon.  Qui 
and  derisiut 
author  has  i 
ductions  of 
gross  absurd 
upon  the  pu 
'  airy  vision 
that  (mincn 
annihnated 
shameful  as 
worst  paid  n 
by  every  pri 
to,  and  in  I 
imbued  witi 
his  conduct, 
from  such  a 

"  We  ava 
holdings  the 
the  publish i 
despoiled  lal 
scanty  crust 
inaws. 

"This  m 


M  AUK  VAT  S    DIART. 


another 
,  of  the 
rancing 
isent  or 
hat  the 
izan  or 
i  which 
tiidioiis 
nd  read 
ur  own, 
e  of  all 
iced  hy 
hile  the 
ilhor: — 
;s  being 
parties 

nost  th 

authors, 
filer  can 
;r  on  its 
cription, 
iid  to  be 
lublisher 
;iiifi  it  m 
Bulwer 
DP  at  the 
w  Wdfks 
III.     Ou 

e  on  the 

lings  is, 
s  in  the 
,  the  di- 
ction 0 
se  works 
ale;  bu 
swer  the 
gleet  the 
Besides 
me  into 
blic,  but 
leir  suc- 
ian,'  for 
ion  than 
in  Eng- 
e  Ameri- 


I 


can  publishers  would  have  given  ua  iminoiliatcly  ajtorrid  reprint 
of  tlie  novel  ;  but  we  slimild  have  licird  ni)tliiii«r  nt"  Ablioll';* 
book,  till  its'  succrss  had  been  abiiiidiiiitly  tried  ,il)r<>,id  ;  iii»reven 
then,  if  .soiiUM'pluMueral  novel  had  started  ii|)  whi'di  jirouiised 
to  sell  b(  Iter. 

"  N'lr  i-.  it  corliin  that  the  price  of  bonk'?  would  be  seriously 
aiigineiiled  by  the  passage  ol'  the  eopyrigbl  law.  It  iniisl  be 
refneiiiliered.  that  a  great  minibfr  of  writers  would  thus  beealled 
into  the  field  at  once,  Hiitjiisb  as  well  as  Aiiieriean  writers;  for. 
if  Kiiglisli  authors  could  enjoy  this  beiielit,  tliey  would  soon 
liegio  to  write  e.\[)r(>ssly  for  Ainericni;  and  the  coinpeiiiion  would 
become  so  great,  as  to  reifulate  the  prices  of  boidis  to  a  proper 
standard.  But,  even  supposing  the  prict;  to  be  ecnsiderably 
raised,  it  would  certainly  be  better  to  |)ay  two  dollars  for  a  hand- 
some volume,  which  is  worth  keeping,  and  worth  reading  ajjaiii, 
tbaii  to  pay  only  one  dollar  for  a  book,  wbi(di  in  five  years  will 
be  worth  no  more  than  the  same  amount  of  brown  paper.  And, 
finally,  there  is  the  consideration  of  a  native  literature,  which 
will,  we  presume,  be  placed  by  all  reasonable  and  inlelligeni 
persons  above  that  of  cheap  books." 

Nevertheless,  a  large  portion  of  the  press  took  up  the  other 
side  of  the  (pieslion,  as  may  be  inferred  frcfn  a  rejily  which  I 
have  inserted  in  the  note  beneath.* 

*  "  Thk  Intkuxationai-  Coi'viuniiT  Qikstiox. — One  of  the 
most  imftortant  tjucstions,  upon  principle,  that  ever  was  mooted,  has 
for  some  time  placed  in  juxtaposition  the  various  editors  of  the  corps 
critical,  accordinj^ly  as  their  interests  or  feelings  have  been  worked 
upon.  Uur  ebief  object  in  these  remarks  ie  to  hold  up  to  the  scorn 
and  derision  that  it  riebly  merits  the  assumption  of  an  editor,  that  an 
author  has  no  right  to  the  emanations  of  his  own  mind — to  the  pro- 
ductions of  Ills  own  pen.  We  do  not  mean  to  answer  the  many  and 
gross  absurdities  whii-li  this  talented  jjfentleman's  sophi.'.try  has  palmed 
upon  the  public,  it  would  l)c  a  work  of  supererogation,  inasmuch  as  his 
•  airy  vision'  has  already  been  completely  '  dissolved'  by  the  breath  of 
that  eminent  gentleman,  well  known  to  us,  who  has  so  completely 
annihilated  the  wrong  which  he  is  so  anxious  to  continue.  But  the 
shameful  assumption  that  a  writer,  universally  allowed  to  be  the 
worst  paid  artist  in  creation,  should  not  have — is  not  eiitiiled  to  have, 
by  every  principle  of  courtesy  and  honour,  a  sole  and  undivided  right 
to,  and  in  his  own  productions  is  so  monstrous,  that  every  editor 
imbued  with  those  feelings,  which  through  life,  should  be  the  rule  of 
his  conduct,  is  iti  duty  bound  to  come  forward  and  express  bis  dissent 
from  such  a  doctrine,  and  his  abhorrence  of  a  principle  so  flagitious. 

"  We  avail  ourselves  of  the  opportunity  this  numlwr  affords  of  up- 
holding the  poor  author's  right,  of  censuring  the  greedy  spoliation  of 
the  publishing  tribe,  who  would  live,  batten,  and  fatten  upon  the 
despoiled  labours  of  those  whom  their  piracy  starves — snatching  the 
scanty  crust  from  their  needy  mouths  to  pamper  their  own  insatiate 
maws. 

"  This  matter  lies  between  the  publisher  aod  the  author.    Tb« 


r 


1  •!■ 


76 


MAUUVAT  5    DIA ur. 


^t 


I  •  I 


1-        I 


Tlio  bill  lirouprht  in  wiinlost.  Strnnjo  tosny,  the  Soiithcrncrii 
votpd  iij,'fiinst,  tin  tlip  <,'r()iiniJs  iliut  llu-y  would  n<»l  ^ivo  a  copy- 
right to  Mi.vs  .MurtitKMiii,  to  propajrato  her  nliolition  doctrines  in 
that  coutitr\ — ror:,a'lliny,  lliiit.  as  a  copyriiilil  would  increase  the 
price  ot'u  work,  it  wouiil  he  the  means  of  ciuckinj^  its  circulation, 
rather  tlnn  ofrxtendifitj  it. 

Wlicn  I  iirriveil  at  \V!isliiii;rton,  I  thought  it  would  he  worth 
wiiilt?  t(»  iisccrluin  tin;  opinion  of  any  of  the  MKMnhersorConfjresH 
I  niiLjht  meet;  and  one  line  niornini;,  I  put.  the(pieslion  tooneof 
the  i,()Co  loco  dele-fates;  when  the  li)llowinj;  conversation  took 
plaen : — 

"  Why,  t.'aptain,  there  is  much  to  hr  said  on  thi.s  subject. 
Vonr  authors  have  petitioned  our  Congress,  I  perceive.  The 
petition  was  read  last  session." 

(.Many  of  the  Americans  appeared  to  bo  hi<.Mily  jrratified  at 
the  idea  ot'an  Finy;lish  peiilion  having,'  been  sent  to  (.'onjjress.) 

"  I  believe  it  was." 

"  Well,  now,  you  see.  (.\iptaiii — you  will  ask  ns  to  let  you  have 
yotu' copyriijht  in  this  country,  as  you  allow  our  authors  their 
eopyriL^lit  in  yours;  and  I  suppose  you  mean  to  say  that  if  wo 
do  not,  that  our  authors  shall  have  no  eo[)yriirlit  in  your  country. 
We'll  allow  that,  but  still  I  eonsich-r  you  ask  loo  much,  as  the 
balance  is  on  our  ^i»le  most  consi<lerablv.  Vo'.ir  authors  are  very 
numerous — ours  are  not.  It  is  very  true,  that  y(ju  can  steal  our 
ropy  rights,  as  well  as  we  can  yours.  liut  if  you  steal  ten,  we 
steal  a  hundred.     Don't  you  perceive  that  you  ask  us  to  give  up 

the  ndvanta;xt'  ■ 

*'Oli,  certainly,"  replied  I,  "I  have  nothing  more  to  say  on 
the  subject.     I'ni  only  glad  of  one  thing." 

i'.utbor  claims  a  risfbt  to  bis  own  productiotip,  wherever  ihoy  may  be. 
The  publishers,  like  the  Cornwall  wrcckeis,  say  no.  the  moment 
your  labours  touch  our  fatal  shore  they  arc  ours;  you  have  no  right 
to  tlu'Mj,  no  title  in  them.  (Jond  heavens  !  shall  sucl»  a  cruel  dospeila- 
tion  be  permitted  !  'J'bc  publishors,  with  eonsuiamate  cuimimr,  turn 
to  the  public,  and  virtually  say,  '  support  us  iti  our  theft,  iuid  we  will 
share  the  s[)()il  with  you;  we  will  give  you  standard  works  at  a  price 
immeasurably  below  their  value.'  As  well  M)igbt  a  thief,  brought 
before  the  honest  anil  worthy  recorder  say  :  If  your  lionour  will  wink 
at  the  criuie,  you  will  make  me  a  public  benefictor,  lor  whilst  I  rob 
one  man  of  an  hundred  watches,  I  can  sell  them  to  an  hundred  per- 
sons for  one-third  of  their  prime  cost ;  and  thus  injure  one  and  benefit 
a  hundred,  you  shall  have  one  very  cheap.  What  would  this  recorder 
say  ?  He  would  say,  the  crime  is  apparent,  and  I  spurn  with  indig- 
nation and  contempt  your  ofler  to  part  with  to  me  that  which  la  noi 
your  own.  And  should  not  this  be  the  re[)ly  of  the  public  to  the 
publishers?  V'es,  and  it  will  be  too.  And  the  vampires  who  have  so 
long  lived  upon  the  spirita  of  authors,  will  have  to  tax  their  own  to 
yield  themselves  support,'* 


"And 
"  Tha 
"  \o, 

isurprisei 
'I'o  th 

reply;  u 

iJUbjeci 

Americii 
real  nn;r 
authors 
and  as  h 

Tiieir 
follows  :- 

••  It  is 
that  wo 
us  to  ta.v 
so  essent 
thors I  J 
sacrifico( 
be  shake 
few  fore 
adtnit,  bii 
such  seri 

Now, 
always  pi 
cnlighter 
the  truth, 
lions  rec( 
out ;  and 
authors,  i 
such  worl 
novels  ot 
nearly  th 
enlighten 
an  Arner 
competitii 
amused,  h 

Accord 
the  grant 
few  autho 
admission 
the  Unite 
ed  by  this 
perceived 
of  the  Anr 
works  put 
when  colli 


MARRYAT  S   DIARY. 


77 


worth 


.1  price 

brought 

^ill  wink 

St  I  rob 

rcil  pcr- 

bcnefit 
recorder 
!i  indig- 
'h  is  noi 
c  to  the 
I  have  so 

own  to 


•♦And  what  may  thiit  h«»,  Cftptnin?" 

••That  I  did  not  si^rn  thr  petition." 

'•  No,  w(!  oLserved  that  your  iiamo  was  not  down,  which  rather 
isurprisod  us." 

'I'o  this  co^ont  nrfjuinnnt  of  the  honoiirnhh'  nH'tnbrr,  I  had  no 
reply;  and  this  was  th(.>  tirst  and  last  tiiiio  thai  1  broached  the 
subjtjci  when  at  Wasliiii^flon  ;  but  at\or  many  conversations  with 
Aniorician  <^ciitl(Mnan  on  the  Mibject,  and  examination  into  the 
real  merits  of  the  case,  I  came  to  the  conclusion,  that  the  Knplixh 
authors  never  would  obtain  a  copyri;,'lit  in  tin;  United  fcJtatoy, 
and  aH  lon<,'  as  the  present  |)arty  arc;  in  power. 

Their  principal  ar^miiient  rai.scd  a«,'ain8l  the  copyright,  is  ai 
follows: — 

*'  It  is  only  by  the  onli;;hteninp  and  education  of  the  people, 
that  we  can  expect  our  institutions  to  hold  to<rt'lher.  ^"ou  ask 
us  to  tax  ourselves,  to  ch(x;k  tlu;  circulation  of  cheap  literature, 
so  essential  to  our  welfare  for  the  br'iietitofa  few  Kuj^lish  au- 
thors! Arc  the  interests  of  ihirtecMi  millions  of  |)e(»[)h'  to  be 
sacriticcd  !  the  foundation  of  our  government  and  iiiHtitutious  to 
be  shaken  tor  such  trivial  advantagcjs  as  would  be  derived  by  a 
few  foreign  authors.  Your  claim  has  the  show  of  justice  we 
admit,  but  when  the  sacrifice  to  justice  must  be  attended  with 
such  serious  conseciuenccis  must  we  not  adhere  to  expediency?" 

Now,  it  so  happens  that  the  very  reverse  of  this  argument  has 
always  proved  to  be  the  case  from  Uie  denial  of  copyright.  'I'he 
cnlightfming  of  a  people  can  only  be  pnKluced  by  ilicir  hearing 
the  truth,  wliicli  they  cannot  aiid  <lo  iwl  under  existing  regula- 
tions receive  from  their  own  authors,  as  I  have  already  jMjinted 
out ;  and  the  ettectsi  of  their  refusal  of  the  copyright  to  English 
authors,  is,  that  the  American  publishers  will  only  send  tbrth 
such  works  as  are  likely  to  have  an  immediate  sjile,  such  as  the 
novels  of  the  day,  which  may  be  said  at  present  to  comprise 
nearly  the  whole  of  American  reading.  Such  works  as  might 
enlighten  the  Americans  are  not  so  rapidly  sjileable  as  to  induce 
an  American  publisher  to  risk  publishing  when  there  is  such 
competition.  What  is  the  conse<iuence  that  the  Americans  are 
amused,  but  not  instructed  or  enl  ghtened? 

According  to  the  present  systeui  of  publication  in  America, 
the  grant  of  copyright  would  prove  to  be  of  advantage  only  to  a 
few  authors — of  course,  I  refer  to  the  most  popular.  I  had  free 
aduiission  to  the  books  of  one  of  the  largest  publishing  houses  in 
the  United  States,  and  I  extracted  from  them  the  prolits  receiv- 
ed by  this  house  for  works  of  a  certain  reputation.  It  will  be 
perceived,  that  the  editions  published  are  not  large.  The  proHti 
of  the  American  houses  chiefly  resulting  from  the  number  oj 
works  published,  each  of  them  yielding  a  moderate  profit,  which, 
when  collected  together,  swell  into  a  large  sum  total. 

7* 


V.ll  I 


i*  • 


■'I 
4: 


%    " 


78 


MARRYAT  S    DIART. 


!*]''> 


";;  ■  ■% 


ll,'H 


C'dpica  printed.    Trade  price. 

Fielding 2,50()        i04  cents,  many  left  unsold 

Prior's  Life  of  Gold- 

smitli 7')0        200      "      sold. 

Arethusa 1,250  70      "      all  sold. 

Abel  Alluut  ....  1,200  52      "      almost  all  sold. 

Fellow  Coiiimuner    2,(>00  70      "      many  on  Imnd. 

Ritlo  Brio^ade  .  .  .  2,000  HI      "      many  on  hand. 

Sharpe's  Essays  .  .  1,000  54       "      one  halt' sold. 

Now,  as  there  are  one  hundred  cents  to  a  dollar,  and  the 
expenses  of  printing,  paper,  and  advertisinfj  have  to  he  deducted,, 
as  well  as  the  copies  left  on  hand,  it  will  he  evident,  that  the 
profit  on  cacli  of  the  above  works,  would  bo  too  small  to  allow 
the  publishers  in  America  to  give  even  £20  lor  the  copyright; 
tlie  consequence  of  a  co|)yright  would  therefore  be,  that  the 
major  portion  of  the  works  printed  would  not  be  published  at  all, 
and  better  works  would  be  substituted.  Of  course,  such  authors 
as  Walter  Scott,  Byron,  Bulwer,  &c.,  have  a  most  e>;tensive 
sale ;  and  tiie  profits  are  in  pro[)ortion,  but  then  it  must  be  re- 
membered that  a  great  many  booksellers  publish  editions,  and 
the  profits  are  divided  accordingly.  Could  Sir  Walter  Scott 
have  obtained  a  copyright  in  the  United  States,  it  would  have 
been  worth  to  him  by  this  time  at  least  £100,000. 

The  Americans  talk  so  much  about  their  being  the  most 
enlightened  nation  in  the  world,  that  it  has  been  generally  re- 
ceived to  bo  the  case.  1  have  already  stated  my  ideas  on  thi? 
subject,  and  I  think  that  the  small  editions  usually  published,  of 
works  not  standard  or  elementary,  prove,  that  with  the  exception 
of  newspapers,  they  are  not  a  reuding  nation.  The  fact  is,  they 
have  no  time  to  read;  they  are  all  at  work;  and  if  they  get 
through  their  daily  newt^paper,  is  quite  as  much  as  most  of 
them  can  ellect.  Previous  to  my  arrival  in  the  United  States, 
and  even  for  some  t  me  allerwards,  I  had  an  idea  that  there 
v/as  a  much  larger  circulation  of  every  class  of  writing  in 
America,  than  there  really  is.  it  is  only  the  most  popular 
English  authors,  as  Waller  Scott,  or  the  most  fashionable,  as 
Byron,  which  have  any  extensive  circulation;  the  works  which 
at  present  the  Americans  like  best,  are  tliosc  of  fiction  in  which 
there  is  anythi.Mglo  excite  or  amuse  them,  which  is  very  natural, 
considering  how  actively  they  are  employed  during  the  major 
portion  of  their  existence,  and  the  consccjuent  necessity  ot 
occasional  relaxation.  When  wo  consider  the  extreme  cheap- 
ness of  books  in  the  United  Staff^s,  and  tLo  enormous  price  of 
them  in  this  country,  the  facilities  of  reading  them  there,  and 
the  difficulty  attending  it  here  from  the  above  causes,  I  have  no 
hesitation  in  saying,  that  as  a  reading  nation,  the  United  States 
canHot  enter  into  coniparison  with  us. 

As  I  am  upon  this  subject,  I  cannot  refrain  from  making  a 
few  remarks  upon  it,  as  connected  with  tliis  country.  The  price 
of  a  book  now  published  is  enormous,  when   '^e  prime  cost  o( 


I 


Tradt 


,  { 

I 

::  i 


mahryat's  diary. 


79 


Linrr  a 


paper  and  printing  is  ronsidered  ;  the  actual  value  of  each  three 
▼oluines  of  a  mod.  rate  edition,  which  are  sold  at  a  guinea  and  a 
half,  being  about /oi/rA/i/Z/i/zifs  and  sixpence^  and  wiion  the  edition 
is  large,  as  the  outlay  lor  putting  up  the  type  is  the  same  in  both, 
of  course  it  is  even  less;  hut  the  author  must  be  paid, and  upon 
the  present  smulleditions  he  hddscoiisiderablytothe  price  charged 
upoji  every  volume;  then  ctmes  theeX|)ense  ofadvertising,  which 
is  very  heavy;  the  profits  of  the  publisher,  and  the  profits  of  the 
trade  in  general ;  for  every  book  for  w  hich  the  public  pay  a  guinea 
and  a  half,  is  delivered  by  the  publisher  to  the  trade,  that  is,  to  the 
booksellers,  at  dt'l  \s.  lUf.  'I'lje  allowance  to  the  trade,  there- 
fore, is  the  heaviest  tax  of  all;  but  it  is  impossible  for  book- 
sellers to  keep  establirhmoiits,  clerks,  &c.,  v\i:hout  having  in- 
demnification. In  all  the  abcjvc  items,  which  so  swells  up  the 
price  of  the  hook,  there  taimot  well  be  any  deduction  made. 

Let  us  examine  into  the  division  of  profits.  I  am  only 
making  an  approximalion,  but  it  is  (juite  near  enough  for  tho 
purpose. 

An  edition  of  1,000  copies  at  JCI  ll.s.  Gd.  will  give  i;l,575. 
Posiliic  Exjnriscs  lu  Publisher, 
Trade  allowance  of  lO.s.  ;}</.  per"^  £.      s. 

copy        .        .       jCoI'J  lO.s.  \ 


Kxtru  allowance  25  for  24— 4()  { 
copies     .        .         .         XO'U 
Printing  and  papor,4.v.  0(/,  per  copy 
Adverti>ing,  etiual  to  2.s.  per  copy 
I'resontations  to  Universities  and 

Reviewers,  say  i^O  copies 
The  author  if  he  is  well  known, 
may  be  said  to  receive  7s.  per 

copy 

Leaving  for  the  publisher     .     . 


575 


225 
100 


10 

0 
0 


47    5 


250 

277 


0 
0 


Total  jL' 1,575  0 

All  the  first  expenses  being  p<*sitive,  it  follows  that  the  strug- 
gle is  between  the  publisher  nrul  the  author,  as  to  what  division 
shall  be  made  of  the  remainder.  The  publishc  points  out  tho 
risk  he  incurs,  and  the  author  his  time  and  necessities  ;  and  when 
it  is  considered  that  many  autlwrs  take  more  than  a  year  to  write 
u  hook,  it  must  be  acknowledged  that  the  sum  paid  to  them,  us  I 
have  put  it  down,  is  not  too  great.  Tiie  risk,  however,  is  with 
the  publisher,  and  the  great  profits  with  the  trade,  which  is  per- 
haps the  reason  why  booksellers  often  make  Ibrtunes,  and  pub- 
lishers as  often  become  bankrupts.  Cienerally  speaking,  however, 
the  two  are  combined,  the  sure  gain  of  the  bookseller  being  as  a 
set  off'against  the  speculation  of  the  publisher. 

Bu*  one  thing  is  certain,  the  price  of  books  in  this  country  is 
much  too  high,  and  what  are  the  consequences  I  First,  tliat  in- 
stead of  purchasing  books,  and  putting  tliem  into  their  libraries, 
people  have  now  formed  themselves  into  societies  and  book* 


1       t  I 


i:  ;: 


i 

{ 

i 

\. 

I: 


II ; 


fio 


marhyat's  diary. 


1> 


4 


» 


I' 


clubs,  or  trust  entirely  to  obtaining  tliem  from  circulating  libra- 
ries. VViiliout  a  book  is  very  ixjpiilar,  it  is  known  by  the  pub* 
lisher  what  the  sule  is  likely  to  be,  within  perhaps  ht'ty  copies; 
for  the  lKX)k-clubsan(l  libraries  will, and  must  have  it,  and  hardly 
anybody  else  will ;  lor  who  will  |)ay  a  truinea  and  a  half  for  a 
oook  wJiich  may,  after  all,  prove  not  worth  reading  !  Secondly, 
it  has  the  etfecl  of  the  works  being  reprinted  abroad,  and  sent 
over  to  this  country,  which,  of  course,  decreases  the  sale  of  the 
English  edition.  At  the  <Justom-l louse,  they  now  admit  English 
works  printed  in  Paris,  at  a  small  duty,  when  brought  over  in  a 
person's  luggage  for  private  reading;  and  these  toreign  editions 
are  smuggled,  and  are  to  be  openly  purchased  at  most  of  the 
towns  along  the  coast.  This  cannot  he  prevented — and  as  for 
any  inteniulional  copyright  being  granted  byFranceor  Belgium, 
I  do  not  think  that  it  ever  will  be;  and  if  it  were,  it  would  bo  of 
no  avail,  tor  the  pirating  would  then  bo  carried  on  a  little  further 
off  in  the  small  (jiermau  States ;  and  if  you  drove  it  to  China,  it 
would  take  place  there.  We  are  running  after  a  VVill-o'-the- 
Wisp  in  that  expectation.  The  fault  lies  in  ourselves  ;  the  books 
are  too  dear,  and  the  question  now  is,  cannot  they  be  made 
cheaper .' 

There  is  a  luxury  in  printing,  to  which  the  English  have 
been  so  long  accustomed,  thai  ii  would  not  do  to  deprive  them 
of  it.  Besides,  bad  paper  and  bad  type  would  make  but  little 
difference  in  the  expense  of  the  book,  as  my  calculation  will 
show;  hul  if  a  three  volume  work*"  could  be  delivered  to  the 
public  alien  shillings,  instead  of  a  guinea  and  a  half,  it  would 
not  only  put  a  slop  to  piracy  abroad,  hut  the  reduced  price 
would  induce  many  hundreds  to  put  it  into  their  library,  and  be 
indepeiideiilof  the  hurried  readiiiji  against  lime,  and  often  figainst 
incliiialioii,  to  which  they  are  subject  by  book-ehibs  and  circu- 
lating libraries  ;  and  that  this  is  not  the  case,  is  the  fault  of  the 
public  itself,  and  not  of  the  author,  ()ul)lislier,  or  any  other  party. 

Il  is  evident  that  the  oiily  way  by  wliich  books  may  be  made 
cheap,  is  by  an  extended  sale — and  Nicholas  Nickleby,  and 
other  works  of  that  description,  hav(!  proved  that  a  cheap  work 
will  have  an  extended  sale — always  provided  it  is  a  really  gooJ 
one. 

Hut  it  is  imfios^ihiP  It  break  through  the  present  arrange- 

♦  I  ou:^hl  bore  t^i  riMiark.  that  the  authors  are  much  injured  by  the 
present  Kystem.  It  having  been  satisfactorily  proved,  that  a  threc- 
vohimo  work  is  tlie  only  one  that  can  he  puhlished  at  the  minimum 
of  cx[)cnse,  ami  the  magnum  of  protits,  no  piiolisher  likes  to  publish 
any  ulher.  'I'hcrc  is  the  siinc  expense  in  advertising,  &c.,  a  two 
volume,  or  a  one  oclavo  beok,  as  a  three.  'J'he  author,  therefore, 
has  to  8pin  out  to  three  volumes,  whether  he  has  matter  or  not;  and 
this  islhu  reason  why  the  second  voluiiie,  like  the  fourth  act  of  a  five 
act  play,  is,  generally  Kpe:iking,  so  very  heavy.  Publishers,  now-a- 
daya,  inoji^uro  workd  with  a  (ooK  rule,  as  the  critic  did  in  Slerne. 


£57; 


|i 


w<  f. 


MARRVAT*S    DIARY. 


SI 


'   •  ) 


nienis  which  confine  the  sale  of  books,  unless  the  public  ibem- 


ill  taki 


hiind — if  th( 


to  exert  ihemst^lve?, 


I — il  they  chodse 

Jhe  low  prices  may  be  firmly  estni)lislir(l  with  equril  benefit  to 
all  parties,  and  with  an  iin'tiense  increase  in  the  cnnsntnption 
of  pa[)er.  To  prove  that  any  attempt  on  the  part  of  an  amhor 
or  publisher  will  not  succeed  nnaided,  it  was  but  a  few  monlh« 
njro,  that  Mr.  Hent'ey  nrade  the  trial,  and  publislied  the  three 
volumes  at  one  nrtiinra  ;  hut  he  did  lut  sell  oni'  copy  more — the 
flubs  and  libraries  toed;  the  usual  number,  and  ho  was  c(im[ielled 
lo  raise  his  price.  The  ra[)id  sale  of  the  Standard  Novels, 
whiidi  have  been  read  over  and  over  ajrain,  when  published  at 
the  price  of  five  shilliniis,  is  another  proof  thai  the  public  has 
no  objection  to  purchase  when  the  price  is  within  its  me.ins. 

I  can  see  but  one  way  by  w  hich  this  jrre.il  desideratum  is  to 
be  eHected  ;  which  is,  by  the  public  insurinor  by  subscription 
atiy  publisher  or  bookseller  I'rnni  loss,  provided  he  (bdivers  the 
works  at  the  reduced  price.  At  present,  one  co[)y  of  a  bonk 
may  be  s;iid  to  serve  for  thirty  people  at  least;  but  say  'h.it  it 
serves  for  ten,  or  rather  say  thai  you  could  obtain  five  thousand, 
or  even  a  less  number,  of  people  to  put  down  their  nimes  as 
subscribers  to  all  new  works  written  by  certain  named  anibors, 
which  should  bo  published  ,ii  the  reduced  price  often  shillings 
per  C(i|iy.      I,et.  us  see  the  result. 

A  ten  shilling  work  under  such  auspices  would  be  delivered 
to  the  trade  at  ei'rhi  sliillin«rs. 


The  value  of  the  five  thousand  copies  to  the  pub- 
lisher would  be 


£. 
2,000 


The  expenses  of  printirifr  and  paper  would  be  re- 
duced to  about  ?,s.  a  copy,  which  would  be     jL'7.')0 
Advertisintr,  as  before  .         .         .         .       ItK) 

Extra  Is.  JJd.,  Is.,  5s.,  about         .         .         .         IG —  8()G 


0 


i,i:u    0 


i]-21     5 

rm]  15 


Ijcavinnr  a  profit  for  iiutlmr  and  publisher  of 
Whereas,  in   the  priiiiinrr  of  a  thousand  copies,  the 
profits  of  autlior  .L'^iaO,  and  of  publisher  iJ"J77  5s., 
e(|u,ille(l  only  ...... 

Kx'ra  profit  lo  author  and  publisher 

Here  the  pni>lic  would  (jain,  the  author  would  {jain,  and  the 
publisher  would  tiain  :  nor  would  any  party  lose;  the  profits  of 
the  trade  would  not  b(»  (piite  so  fjreat,  beiiiL'"  C.')00.  instead  of 
£575  ;  but  it  musl  be  remembered,  that  there  are  many  who,  not 
heintr  subscril)ers,  would  [)urchase  the  book  as  soon  as  they  found 
that  it  was  approved  ol' — indeed,  there  is  no  saying  to  what 
extent  the  sale  mi<jht  prove  to  be. 

If  any  one  puldisher  sold  books  at  this  price,  the  efTect  would 
be  of  reducinir  the  price  of  all  publications,  for  either  the  authors 
must  apply  to  the  cheap  publisher,  or  the  other  publishers  sell  at 
tlic  same  rate,  or  they  would  not  sell  at  all.     Uook-club»)  and 


'  I 


!*i'ri 


»'  ■  If 


|,t 


!i   I 


m  '^' 


i'J 


82 


MARRYAT  S    DIARY. 


II 


It',':    lii 


^^4 


"»f 


circulating  libraries  would  then  rapidly  break  up,  and  we  should 
obtain  the  great  desideratum  of  cheap  literature. 

And  now  that  1  have  made  my  statement,  what  will  be  the 
consequence?  Why,  people  will  say,  "  that's  all  very  well, 
all  very  true" — and  nobody  will  take  the  trouble — the  conse- 
qaence  is,  that  the  publin  will  go  on,  paying  through  the  nose  as 
before — and  if  so,  let  it  not  grumble;  as  it  has  no  one  to  thank 
but  itself  for  it.* 

The  paper  and  printing  in  America  is,  generally  speaking,  so 
very  inferior,  that  the  books  are  really  not  worth  bindmjj,  and  are 
torn  up  or  thrown  away  aftiT  they  are  rea<l — not  that  they  cannot 
print  H'ell ;  for  at  Boston  particularly  they  turn  out  very  excel- 
lent workmanship.  Mr.  Prcscott's  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  is  a 
very  good  specimen,  and  so  are  many  of  tiie  Bibles  and  Prayer 
books.  In  consequence  of  their  own  bad  printing,  and  the  tax 
upon  English  books,  there  are  very  few  libraries  in  America: 
and  in  this  point,  the  American  government  should  make  some 
alteration,  as  it  will  be  beneticial  to  both  countries.  The  En- 
glish editions,  if  sent  over,  would  not  interfere  with  the  sale  of 
their  cheap  editions,  and  it  would  enable  the  American  gentle- 
men to  collect  libraries.  'J'he  duty,  at  present,  is  twenty-six 
cents  per  pound,  on  books  in  boards  and  thiity  cents  upon  bound 
books. 

Now,  with  the  exception  of  school  books,  upon  which  the  duty 
should  he  retained,  this  duty  should  be  very  much  reduced. 

At  present,  all  books  published  prior  to  1775,  are  admitted 
upon  a  reduced  duty  of  five  cents.  This  date  should  be  extended 
to  1810,  or  1815,  and  illustrated  works  should  also  be  admitted 
upon  the  reduced  duty.  It  would  be  a  bonus  to  the  Americans 
who  wish  to  have  libraries,  and  some  advantage  to  the  English 
booksellers. 

I  cannot  dismiss  this  subject  without  pointing  out  a  most  dis- 
honest practice,  which  has  latterly  been  resorted  to  in  the  United 
States,  and  which  a  copyright  only,  I  am  afraid,  can  prevent  the 
continuance  of.  Works  which  have  become  standard  authority 
in  England,  on  acount  of  the  purity  of  their  Christian  principles, 
are  republished  in  America  with  whole  pages  altered,  advantage 
being  taken  of  the  great  reputation  of  the  orthodox  writers,  to 
disseminate  Unitarian  and  Socinian  principles.  A  friend  of  mine, 
residing  in  Haliflix,  Nova  Scotia,  sent  to  a  religious  book  society 
at  New  York  for  a  number  of  works,  as  presents  to  the  children 
attending  the  Sunday  school.  He  did  not  examine  them,  having 
before  read  the  works  in  England,  and  well  knowing  what  ought 
to  have  been  the  contents  of  each. 

♦  Thf  mcmljers  of  the  peerage  and  baronetage  of  Gieat  Britain — 
the  members  of  the  untitled  aristocracy — the  staff  officers  of  the  srmy 
and  navy — the  mi-nhers  of  the  different  clubs — are  each  of  thera  suf- 
ficiently nunierou.s  to  effect  thisobjec-t;  and  if  any  subscription  was 
opened,  it  could  not  fait  of  being  filled  up. 


MARRYAT  S    DIAHY. 


83 


34  to 
line^ 
:iety 
dren 


in — 
rmy 
suf- 
was 


To  his  surprise,  the  parents  came  to  him  a  few  days  after- 
wards to  return  the  books,  staiinjr  that  they  presumed  that  he 
eould  not  be  aware  of  the  nature  of  their  corjtenls;  and  on  ex- 
amiiiaiion,  he  found  that  he  had  been  circMilatinir  Unitarian  prin- 
ciples amonjr  the  children,  instead  of  those  which  he  had  wished 
to  inculcate.* 

'Die  [)re.>-s  of  America,  as  1  have  described  it,  is  all  powerful ; 
but  still  it  must  be  borne  in  mind,  tliat  it  is  but  the  slave  of  the 
majority  ;  which,  in  its  turn,  it  dare  not  oppose. 

Sucli  is  its  tyranny,  that  it  is  the  dread  of  the  whole  commu- 
nity. No  one  can — no  oiie  dare  ojipose  it;  whosoever  falls 
under  its  displeasure,  be  he  as  innocent  and  as  pure  as  man  can 
be,  his  doom  is  sealed.  Hut  this  power  is  only  delegated  by 
the  will  of  the  majfirity,  lor  let  any  author  in  America  oppose 
that  will,  and  he  is  denounced.  Yon  must  drink,  you  must 
write,  liot  according  to  your  own  opinions,  or  your  own  tlioughts, 
but  as  the  majority  will.]- 

Mr.  'roc(]U(,'ville  observes,  "I  know  no  country  in  which  there 
is  so  little  true  independence  of  n»ind,  and  freedom  of  discussion, 
as  in  America." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


THE  MI.-SSISSllTI. 


1  H.WE  headed  this  chapter  with  the  name  of  the  river  which 
llows  between  the  princi|)al  Stales  in  which  the  society  I  am 
about  to  depict  is  to  be  found  ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  there  are 
other  southern  States,  such  a.^^  Alabama  and  (Jeorgia,  which 
must  be  included.  I  shall  attempt  to  draw  the  line  as  clearly 
as  I  can.  for  allhoiicfh  the  territory  comprehended  is  enormous, 
the  population  is  not  one-third  of  that  of  the  United  States,  and 
it  would  be  a  great  injustice  if  the  description  of  the  society  I 
am  about  to  enter  into  should  be  supposed  to  refer  to  that  of  the 
States  in  general.  It  is  indeed  most  peculiar,  and  arising  fronn 
circunist-.mces  which  will  induce  me  to  reler  back,  that  the 
causes  may  he  exj)lained  to  the  reader.     Never,  perhaps,  in  the 

*  One  of  those  works  was  Abbott's  Young  Christian,  or  some  other 
work  by  author. 

i  indeed,  one  cannot  help  beincf  reminded  of  what  Beaumarchais 
makes  Figaro  say  upon  the  liberty  of  the  press  in  another  country. 
"  On  me  dit  que  pendant  ma  relraitc  econoniique  il  scsst  etabli  dans 
Madrid  un  systenie  de  liberie  sur  la  vente  dcs  pioductions,  qui  s'^tend 
meme  a  celles  de  le  presse;  et  que,  jiourvu  que  je  ne  parie  en  me« 
ecrits,  ni  v.  i'autoritc,  ni  du  culte,  ni  de  la  politique,  ni  de  la  Fnorale, 
ni  des  gens  en  place,  ni  des  corps  en  credit,  ni  de  {'opera,  ni  des  autrce 
spectacles,  ni  de  personne  qui  tienne  a  quelque  chose,  je  puis  tout 
ifuprimer  Ubrement  sous  i'inspection  de  deux  on  Iroia  censeurt.^^ 


l 


i  I    !l 

'I     I 


■'}■ 


84 


MARRVAT  S    DIARV. 


1:1 


records  of  nnlions  was  thpro  an  instanre  of  a  rrntury  of  such 
unvaryinjj  and  unmili<;;Upd  crimo  as  is  to  I>p  rolloctrd  from  ihr 
history  of  the  tiirhr.lpiit  and   hlood-strtincd    Mississippi.     The 
stream  iisolf  appears  as  if  appropriate  for  the  deeds  which  have 
been   fnmmittrd.     Ft   is  tint  like  most  rivers,  heaiitifiil  to   the 
sight,  ht'^tdwiiijr  ftTtiliiy   in  iis  course;  not   one  that  the  eye 
loves  to  «Iwell  \ipon  as  it  sweeps  alonty,  nor  ran  yon  wander  on 
its  hank,  or  trust  yourself  without  d  iiitjcr  to  its  stream.     It  is  a 
furious,  rapid,  desolatinjj  torrent,  loaded  with  alluvial  soil  ;  and 
few  of  those  who  are  received  inti  its  waters  ever  rise  ■ijrain,or 
can  support  themselves  lonjr  on   it3  surface  without  assistance 
from   some    friendly   lojr.      Ji  contains  the  coarsest  and    most 
nneatal)!e   of  fish,  such  as  the  cat-fish  and  such  genus,  and  as 
yon  descend   its  hanks  are    occupied    with   the  fetid   alligator, 
while  the  panther  basks  at  its  edge  in  the  cane-hrakes,  almost 
impervious    to    man.     Pouring   its    impetuous   waters  through 
wild    tracks,   covered   with  trees  of  little   value  except  for  fire- 
wood, it   sweeps  down  whole  forests  in   its  course,  which  dis- 
appear in  tuniuliueus  confusion,  whirled  away   hy   the  stream 
now  l.t;i(|c(|  with  the  masses  of  soil  which  nourished  their  roots, 
often  hidcking  up  and  changing  for  a  time  the  <'harMiel  of  the 
river,  which,  as  if  in  anger  at  its  being  opposed,  inundates  and 
devastates  tlin  whole  country  round  ;  and  ;is  soon  us  it  forces  its 
way  throiiirii  its   former  channel,   plants  in  every  direct iuii  the 
uprooted  monarchs  of  the  forest  (upon  whose  hranchrs  the  bird 
will  never  again   perch,   or    the   racoon,   the  opossum,  or    tlie 
squirrel,  climli)  as  traps  to   the  adventurous  iiavitjatorr.  of  its 
waters  liv  steam,  wh?,  home   down  upon  these  concealed  dan- 
gers which  pierce  through  the  planks,  very  often  have  not  time 
to  steer  for  rod  gain  the  shore  before  they   sink  to   the  bottom. 
There  are   no   pleasing  assoj-iations   connccied   with  the  great 
common  sewer  of  the  western  Americr.,  which  [loiirs  nut  its  mud 
into  the  .M(  .\ican  (iulpii,  polluting  the  clear    hlne  sea  for  many 
miles  beyond  its   mouth.     It  is  a   river  of  desolation  ;   and  in- 
stead of  reminding  you,  like   other  beautiful  rivers,  of  an  angel 
which  has  descended  tor  the  benefit  of  man,  you   imagine  it  a 
devil,  who>(>  energies  has  been  only  overcome  by  the  wonderful 
power  of  ste.im. 

Tii(i  early  hi.storyof  the  Mississippi  is  ono  of  piracy  and  bucca- 
neerinir;  its  moutiis  were  frecp.eiited  by  thej-f;  ninraiulers,  as  in 
the  bayous  and  creeks  they  found  protection  and  concealment 
for  themselves  and  their  ill-gotten  wealth.  Even  imti!  after  the 
war  of  1^14  tliesf^  ?(^a-robbers  still  to  a  certain  extent  Houru-hed. 
and  the  name  of  liufitte,  the  last  of  their  leaders,  is  deservedly 
renowned  for  conrai'-e  and  tor  crime;  his  vessels  were  usually 
secreted  in  the  land-locked  bay  of  Haritaria,  to  the  westward  of 
llie  mouth  of  the  river.  They  w<re,  howevcT,  soon  extirpatj'il  by 
the  American  government.  The  language  of  the  tw'jacent 
States  is  still  adnltered  with  the  slang,  of  those  scoundrels 
provin;^  how  short  a  period  it  is  since  they  disappeared,  and  hovr 


--'^•Mi^ -. 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


85 


I 


Ihey  must  have  mixed  up  with  the  reckless  population,  whoso 
iiend-qiiartcrs  were  then  ut  the  mouth  of  the  river. 

But  as  t^ic  huntino;.(rroun(ls  of  Western  Virginia,  Kcniucky, 
and  the  northern  hunks  of  the  Ohio,  were  gradually  wrested 
from  the  Shawnee  Indians,  the  population  became  more  dense, 
and  the  Mississippi  itself  hecanie  the  means  of  communication 
anJ  of  barter  with  the  more  northern  tribes.  Then  another  race 
of  men  made  their  appearance,  and  flourished  for  lialf  a  century, 
varying  indeed  in  employment,  but  in  other  respects  little  better 
than  the  buccaneers  and  pirates,  iii  whose  ranks  they  were  pro- 
bably first  enlisted.  These  were  the  boatmen  of  the  Mississippi, 
who  with  incredible  fatigue  forced  their  "  keels"  with  poles 
against  ilie  current,  working  against  the  stream  with  the 
cargoes  entrusted  to  their  care  by  the  merchants  of  New 
Orleans,  labouring  for  many  months  before  they  arrive  at 
their  destinaiion,  and  returning  with  the  rapid  current  in 
as  many  days  as  it  required  weeks  for  them  to  ascend. 
This  was  a  service  of  great  danger  and  difficulty,  requiring 
men  of  iron  frame  and  undaurUed  resolution:  they  had 
to  contend  not  only  with  the  stream,  but  when  they  ascended 
the  Ohio  with  the  Indians,  who,  taking  up  the  most  favour- 
able |)ositions,  either  poured  down  the  contents  of  their  rifles 
into  ihe  boat  as  she  passed,  or,  taking  advantage  of  the 
dense  fog,  boarded, them  in  their  canoes,  indiscriminate  slaughter 
being  the  invariable  result  of  the  boatmen  having  allowed  them- 
selves to  be  surprised.  In  these  men  was  to  be  found,  as  there 
often  is  in  the  most  unprincipled,  one  redeeming  quality  (inde- 
j)eiident  of  courage  and  perseverance),  which  was,  that  they 
were,  generally  speaking,  unscrupulously  honest  to  their  em- 
ployers, although  they  made  little  ceremony  of  appropriating  to 
their  own  use  the  property,  or,  if  necessary,  of  taking  the  life 
of  any  other  parlies.  Wild,  indeed,  are  the  stories  which  are 
still  remembered  of  the  deeds  of  coaratje,  and  also  of  the  fearful 
crimes  committed  by  these  men,  on  a  river  which  never  gives 
up  its  dead.  I  say  still  remembered,  for  in  a  new  country  they 
r(^adily  forget  the  past,  and  only  look  forward  to  the  future, 
whereas  in  an  old  country  the  case  is  nearly  the  reverse — we  love 
to  recur  to  iraditjoii,  and  luxuriate  in  the  dim  records  of  history. 

The  following  descri|)tion  of  the  employment  of  this  elass  of 
people  is  from  the  pen  of  an  anonymous  American  author: — 

"There  is  someching  inexplicable  in  the  fact,  tliere  could  be 
men  found,  for  ordinary  wages,  who  would  abandon  the  syste- 
matic but  not  laborious  pursuits  of  agriculture  to  follow  a  life, 
of  all  others  except  that  of  the  soldier,  distinguished  by  the 
greatest  exposure  and  privation.  The  occupation  of  a  boatman 
was  more  lalculated  to  destroy  the  constitution  and  to  shorten 
life  than  any  other  business,  In  ascending  the  river  it  was  a 
continued  series  of  toil,  rendered  moreirksonif  by  the  snail-like 
rate  at  which  they  moved.  The  boat  was  propelled  by  poles, 
against  which  the  shoulder  was  placed,  and  the  whole  strenoth 
and  skill  of  the  individual   were  applied  in  this  manner.     As 

8 


i 

ll  t    <? 


86 


hakryat'8  diart. 


n 


|:| 


the  boatmen  moved  along  the  running  board,  with  their  head!* 
nearly  touching  the  plank  on  which  they  walked,  the  effect 
produced  on  the  mind  of  an  observer  was  similar  to  that  on  be- 
holding the  ox  rocking  before  an  overloaded  cart.    Their  bodies, 
naked  to  their  waist  for  the  porpose  of  moving  with  greater 
ease  and  of  enjoying  the  breeze  of  the  river,  were  exposed  to 
the  burning  suns  of  summer  and  to  the  rains  of  autumn.     After 
a  hard  day's  push  they  would  take  their  'fillee,'  or  ration  of 
whisky,  and,  having  swallowed  a  miserable  supper  of  moat 
half  burnt,   and   of  bread   half  baked,   stretched  themselves, 
without  covering,  on  the  deck,  and  slumber  till  the  steersman's 
call  invited  them  to  the  morning  'fillee.'     Notwithstanding  this, 
ilu'  boatman's  life  had  charms  as  irresistible  as  those  presented 
by  the  splendid  illusions   of  the  stage.     Sons  abandoned  the 
ronifortable  farms  of  their  fathers,  and  apprentices  fled  from  the 
servifp  of  their  masters.    There  was  a  captivation  in  the  idea 
of » jrniiig  down  tlie  river,' and  the  youthful  boatman  who  had 
'  pushed  u  keel'  from  New  Orleans  felt  all  the  pride  of  a  young 
n.erchant  after  his  tirst  voyage  to  an  English  sea-port.     From 
an  exchisivo  association  together  ihey  had  formed  a  kind  ot 
slang  peculiar  to  themselves;  and  from  the  constant  exercise  of 
wit  with  '  the  s(|uatters'  on  shore,  and  crews  of  other  boats,  they 
acquired  a  (juicknoss  ami  smartness  of  vulgar  retort  that  was 
(]uite  anuising.     The  frequent  battles  they  were  engaged  in  with 
the  boatineii  of  tlifl'erenl  ));irts  of  the  river,  and  with  the  less 
civilized  inhabitants  of  the  lower  Oliioaiul  Mississippi,  invested 
them  wiili  that  furious  reputation  which  has  made  them  spoken 
of  ihroiighoui  Euro|)e. 

"  On  board  of  the  boats  thus  navigated  our  merchants  entrust- 
ed valuable  cargoot:,  without  insurance,  awd  with  no  other 
guarantee  than  the  receipt  of  the  stcersmari,  who  poe^scsf^ed  no 
property  but  his  bout ;  and  the  confidence  so  reposed  was  seldom 
abused." 

Every  class  of  men  has  its  hero,  as  those  always  will  Le  who, 
from  ent^rgy  ef  character  and  natural  endowment,  arc  superior 
to  their  fellows.  The  most  remarkable  person  among  thesrC  peo- 
ple was  one  Mike  Fink,  who  was  their  acknowledged  leader 
for  many  years.  His  fame  was  established  frctn  New  Orlean.s 
to  Pittsburg.  He  was  endowixl  with  gigantic  strength,  courage, 
and  i)resenco  of  mind — his  rille  was  unerring,  and  his  conscience 
never  troubled  his  repose.  Everyone  was  afraid  of  him;  every 
one  was  anxious  to  bo  on  good  terms  with  him,  for  he  was  a 
regular  freebooter;  and  although  he  spared  his  friends,  he  gave 
lio  quarter  to  the  lives  or  properties  of  others.  Mike  Fink  was 
not  originally  a  boatmen  :  at  an  early  age  ho  had  enlisted  in  the 
company  of  scouts,  another  variety  of  employment  protluced  by 
circumstjinces — a  species  of  solitary  rangers  employed  by  the 
An»encan  government,  and  acting  as  spies,  lo  watch  the  mo- 
tions of  the  Indians  on  the  frontiers.  This  peculiar  service  is 
thus  described  by  the  author  I  have  before  quoted: — 

"  At  that  time,  Pittsburg  was  on  the  extreme  verge  of  while 


\iopulati( 
illy  extt 
west  of 
iiian,  an( 
taste,  an 
border  w 
worthy  t 
ther,  II 
parched 
— and  si 

In  thi.- 
ness  anrl 
with  tilt 
white  m; 
than  the 
which  th 
coverinif 
twigs,  la 
he  is  \er 
riHe,  he 
their  boa 
mid-strei 
live  |)igs 
to  Alike 
esting  to 

"  As  h 
tread  of 
the  edge 
temptatic 
to  have  a 
his  flint. 
At  the  II 
take  his  ; 
object,  ac 
own.  A) 
and  keep 
patience, 
paces,  an 
Mike  pre 
moment  t 
of  Fink  I 
yell,  and 
re-loaded 
lo  ascerla 
then  ste)] 
himself  t 
buck,  and 
cess  of je 

As  the 
of  scouts 
woods,  U 


MARRTAT  S    DIARY. 


87 


\)opulation,  and  tlic  spies,  who  wore  cons^tnntiy  employeil,  gcner- 
illy  extended  their  rrconnoissunce  forty  or  fifty  inilos  to  the 
west  of  this  post.  'J'hoy  went  out  sinjjly,  lived  as  did  the  In- 
dian, and  in  every  respect  hecanie  perfectly  assimilated  in  habits, 
taste,  and  feelinj,',  with  the  red  men  of  the  desert  A  kind  of 
l)order  warfare  was  kept  up,  and  the  scout  thoui,'ht  it  as  praise- 
worthy to  hriijfj  in  the  scalp  of  a  Shawnee,  as  the  skin  of  a  pan- 
ther. He  wouhl  remain  in  the  woods  tor  weeks  lofjether,  using 
parched  corn  for  bread,  and  dependin<r  on  iiis  riHe  for  his  meat 
— and  slept  at  ni<(ht  in  perfect  comfort,  rolled  in  his  Idanket." 

In  this  service  Alike  Fink  acquired  a  irreat  reputation  t()r  cool- 
ness and  counifjc,  and  many  arc  the  stories  told  of  his  ad  ventures 
with  the  Indians.  It  has  been  inconlestably  proved,  that  the 
white  man,  when  accust(jmed  to  the  woods,  is  much  more  acute 
tlian  the  Indian  himself  in  that  woodcraft  of  every  species,  in 
which  the  Indian  is  supposed  to  be  such  an  adept;  suoli  as  dis- 
coverinif  a  trail  by  the  prmt  of  a  Mocassin,  l)y  the  breakinij  of 
twjnrg,  jayinix  of  the  grass,  &.c. ;  and  in  the  practice  <jf  the  ritle 
he  is  very  superior.  As  a  proof  of  Fink's  dexterity  witii  his 
riHe,  he  is  said  one  day,  as  they  were  descending  the  Ohio  in 
their  boat,  to  have  laid  a  wager,  and  won  it,  that  he  would  from 
mid-stream  with  his  riHe  halls  cut  olfat  the  .-tumps  the  tails  of 
five  pif^s  which  were  feeding  on  the  banks.  One  story  relative 
to  Mike  Fink,  when  he  was  employed  as  a  scout,  will  be  inter- 
esting to  the  reader. 

"As  he  was  creeping  along  one  morning,  with  the  stealthy 
tread  of  a  cat,  his  eye  fell  upon  a  beautiful  buck  browsing  on 
the  edge  of  a  barren  spot,  three  hundred  yards  disidiit.  The 
temptation  was  loo  stroug  for  the  woodsman,  and  he  resolved 
to  have  a  shot  at  every  hazard.  Ilepriming  his  gun,  and  picking 
his  flint,  he  made  his  approaches  in  the  usual  noiseless  maaner. 
At  the  moment  he  reached  the  spot  from  which  he  meant  lo 
take  his  aim,  he  observed  a  large  savage,  intent  upon  the  same 
object,  advancing  from  a  direction  a  little  different  from  his 
own.  Mike  shrunk  behind  a  tree  with  the  quickness  of  thought, 
and  keeping  his  eye  fixed  on  the  hunter,  waited  the  result  with 
patience.  In  a  fevv  moments  the  Indian  halted  within  fifty 
paces,  and  levelled  his  piece  at  the  deer.  In  the  meanwhile 
Mike  presented  his  riHe  at  the  body  of  the  savage,  and  at  the 
moment  the  smoke  issued  from  the  gun  of  the  latter,  the  bull  et 
of  Fink  passed  through  the  red  man's  breast.  He  uttered  a 
yell,  and  fell  dead  at  the  same  instant  with  the  deer.  Mike 
re-loaded  his  rifle,  and  remained  in  his  covert  for  some  minutes 
to  ascertain  whether  there  were  more  enemies  at  hand.  He 
then  stepped  up  to  the  prostrate  savage,  and  having  satisfied 
himself  that  life  was  extinguished,  turned  his  attention  to  th« 
buck,  and  look  from  the  carcase  those  pieces  r^uiled  to  the  pro- 
cess of  jerking." 

As  the  country  filled  up  the  Indians  retreated,  and  the  corps 
of  scouts  was  abolished  :  but  after  a  life  of  excitement  in  the 
woods,  they  w«re  unfitted  for  a  settled  occupation.    iSotne  of 


:i 


W 


^  ; 


i 


I 


'■fl 


8S 


marryat's  dtarv 


'•  A* 


■v! 


*^l' 


them  joined  the  the  Indians,  others, and  amnn^them  Mike  F'infr. 
enrolled  themselves  amoiiy  the  fraternity  of  hoatmen  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi. 

The  death  of  Mike  Fink  was  hefittinfr  hi-  life.  One  of  his 
very  common  exploits  with  liis  rilte  was  hittinj;  for  a  waitf-r,  at 
thirty  yards  distance,  a  small  tin  pot,  nscd  hy  the  hoatmen, 
which  was  put  on  the  head  of  annth(.>r  man.  JSimh  was  his  repu- 
tation, that  no  one  hardly  objected  to  heiiifr  phiccfl  in  this  pre- 
carious situation.  It  is  even  said  that  his  wile,  that  is,  his  Missi/i- 
s!ppi  wife,  was  accustomed  to  stand  the  fire  ;  this  (cat  was  always 
performed  for  a  wiger  of  a  quart  of  spirits,  made  hy  some  stran- 
jrer,  and  was  a  source  of  ohtaininfr  the  necessary  .-.iippli<  s.  One 
day  the  wajjer  was  made  as  usual,  and  a  man  with  v/hou)  Mik( 
had  at  one  time  heen  at  variance  (althoni,'h  the  feud  was  now 
supposed  to  have  hern  forppotton)  was  the  party  who  consented 
that  the  pot  should  he  placed  on  his  hc^ad.  Whether  it  was 
that  Mike  was  not  quite  sober,  or  that  ho  retained  his  ill-will 
towar<ls  the  man,certaiti  it  is,  that  in  thi^  instance,  instead  ot 
his  hiltingthe  mark,  his  biillet  went  below  it  and  throujih  the  brain 
of  the  man,  who  instantly  fell  dead  ;  but  his  brother,  who  was 
standinnr  by, and  probably  suspecting  treachery,  had  his  loaded 
rrfle  in  liis  hand,  levelled,  fired,  and  in  a  second  the  soul  of  Mike 
was  despatched  after  that  of  his  victim. 

Here  endeth  the  history  of  Mike  Fink,  Esq. 

The  invention  of  the  steam-enjfine,  and  its  application  to 
nautical  purposes,  deprived  the  boatmen  of  employment;  they 
were  again  thrown  upon  their  own  resources,  and  as  it  may 
he  supposed,  did  not  much  assist  in  the  amelioration  of  Mis- 
sissippi society.  The  country  gradually  increasd  its  popula- 
tion, but  as  a  majority  of  those  who  migrated  were  of  the 
worst  description,  being  composed  of  these  who  had  fled  from 
the  more  settled  States  to  escape  the  punishment  due  to  their 
crimes,  it  may  be  said,  that  so  far  from  improving,  the  morals  of 
the  Mississippi  became  worse,  as  the  mean  and  paltry  knave, 
the  swindler,  and  the  forger  were  now  mingled  up  with  the  more 
daring  spirits,  producing  a  more  complicated  and  varied  class  of 
crime  than  before.  The  steam-boats  were  soon  crowded  hy  a 
description  of  people  who  were  termed  gamblers,  as  such  was 
their  ostensible  profession,  although  they  were  ready  for  any 
crime  which  night  offer  an  advantage  to  them,*  and  tue  increase 
of  commerce  and  constant  inpouring  cf  population  daily  offer  to 

*  "  Jack/ton,  JMi  a  si  SSI ppi,  Oct.  13. 
"  PosTscniPT. — Btf  yesterday  eveving^s  northern  mail,  we  learn 
from  the  Argus  of  9th  inst.,  that  during  the  last  week  the  gamblers 
in  (yolumbus,  Mississippi,  have  kept  the  town  in  great  excitement. 
Armed  men  paraded  the  streets,  and  were  stationed  at  corners,  with 
double-barrelled  guns,  Bowie  knives,  &c. ;  and  every  day  a  general 
fight  was  anticipated.  The  gamblers  put  law  and  public  indignation 
at  defiance.  The  militia  were  called  out  to  aid  the  civil  authority  in 
preserving  peace." — Sun^ 


I 


tl 


ihem  sf 
was  mil 
rifle,  an 
|)rove  tl 
1  shin 
can, the 
There  i 
giving 
year  18.*: 
Aliirtd  w 
his  direc 
ill  the  s( 
appears 
viliain. 
itinerant 
'•soul  in 
to  look  a 
federate 
oiiL'  Sta 
of  their 
run  awa' 
other  (ju 
negro 
tliem  to 
for  him, 
would  se 
poor  wrc' 
and  fieo( 
away  ai>ii 
this  mam 
four  thou 
of  detocti 
that  couli 
si3lf,  by  m 
fclven  if  it 
was  inurd 
for  tiiey  c 
vertised,  i 
An  adver 
property. 
When,  th 
trust,  not 
the  prope 
was  usel 
inquired, 
such  circ 
is  stated 
federates, 
gang  who 
confederal 
which  1  s 


marryat's  oiarv. 


89 


ibem  soTTic  new  dupe  fur  llieir  villiny.  Tlifi  slato  of  society 
was  much  worse  than  before — the  knife  was  sulisiiiiiied  for  the 
rifle,  and  lite  riv(  r  Ixiricd  many  a  secret  of  atrocious  murder.  To 

1)T0ve  the  extent  to  which  these  deeds  of  horror  were;  |)er[»eiraled, 
shall  jjive  to   the  Knijlish  reader,  in  as  sin-cinct  a  form  as  I 
can,  the  hi.story  of  John  Murel,  the  land  piralo,  as  he  was  termed. 
There  is  an  octavo  volume,  published  in  the   I  nited   Stales, 
givinn;  a  whole  statement  of  the   all'air;   it  was  not  until   the 
year  1833  that  il  was  exposed  and  Mure!  sent  to  the  I'eniientiary. 
Murel  was  at  the  head  of  a  iartje  b.uid,  who  iiad  joined  under 
his  directions,  for  the  purposes  of  steaiinfr  horses  and  n(^<iroes 
in  the  southern  Ntates,  and  of  passini;  eountfrlfit  money,     lie 
appears  to  have  been  a  most  dexterous  as  well   as  consummate 
villain.     When  he  travelled,  his  usual  disfjuise  was  that  of  an 
itinerant  preacher;   and  it  is  said  that  his  discourses  were  very 
''soul  moviiiff" — intorestin":  the  hearers  so  much  ihut  thev  lorijol 
to  look  aller  their  horses,  which  were  carried  away  by  his  con- 
fedorutes  while  ho  was  preachinj''.     Hut  the  stealing'- of  horses  iji 
one  State,  and  sellinjj;  them  in  another,  was  but  n  small  portion 
of  their  business;  the  most  lucrative  was  the  cnticinir  slaves  to 
run  away  from  their  masters,  that  they  miirht  sell  them  in  some 
other  quarter.     This  was  arranjjred  as  follows;  they  would  tell  a 
nco-ro  that  if  he   would  run  away  from  his  master,  and  allow 
them  to  sell  him,  he  should  receive  a  portion  of  the  money  paid 
tor  him,  and  that  upon  his  return  to  them  a  second  time  they 
would  send  him  to  a  free  State,  where  he  would  be  safe.     The 
poor  wretches  complied  with  this  recjuest,  hoping  to  obtain  money 
and  fteodom;  they  would  be  sold  to  another  master,  and  run 
away  aijain  to  their  employers  ;  sometimes  they  would  bo  sold  in 
this  manner  three  or  four  times  until  they  had  realized  three  or 
four  thousand  dollars  by  them;  but  us,  afl<;r  this,  there  was  fear 
of  detection,  the  usual  custom  was  to  g'et  rid  of  the  only  witness 
that  could  be  produced  airaiiist  them,  which  was  the  nen;ro  liim- 
self,  by  mudoriiig  him,  and  throwiiiLT  his  body  into  the  Mississippi, 
tjven  if  it  was  established  that  they  had  st('»len  a  neg-ro  betbre  Ijo 
was  murdered,  th(3y  were  always  prepared  to  evade  punishment, 
tor  they  concealed  the  neofro  who  had  run  away  until  he  was  ad- 
vertised, and  a  reward  offered  to  any  man  who  would  catch  him. 
An  advertisement  of  this  kind  warrants  the  person  to  take  the 
property,  if  found,  and  then  the  nej^ro  becomes  a  property  in  trust. 
VV^hen,  therefore,  they  sold  the  nci^ro,  it  only  became  a  breach  of 
trust,  not  stealing ;  and  for  a  breach  of  trust,  the   owner   of 
the  property  can  only  have  redress  by*  a  civil  action,   which 
was  useless,   as  the  damages   were   never    paid.     It  may  be 
inquired,  how  it  was  that   Murel   escaped    Lynch  law    under 
such  circumstances'!     This  will  be  easily  understood  when  it 
is  stated    that    he    had    more    tiian    a    thousand    sworn  con- 
federates, all  ready  at  a  moment's  notice  to  support  any  of  the 
gang  who  might  be  in  trouble.     The  names  of  all  the  principal 
confederates  of  Murel  were  obtained  from  himself,  in  a  manner 
which  1  shall  presently  explain.    The  gang  was  composed  of 

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two  classes:  the  heads  or  council,  as  they  were  called,  who 
planned  and  concerted  but  seldom  acted  ;  they  amounted  to  about 
four  hundred.  The  other  class  were  the  active  agents,  and 
were  termed  Strikers,  and  amounted  to  about  six  hundred  and 
fifty.  These  were  the  tools  in  the  hands  of  the  others ;  they  ran 
all  the  risk,  and  received  but  a  small  proportion  of  the  money ; 
they  were  in  the  power  of  the  leaders  of  the  gang-,  who  would 
sacrifice  them  at  any  time  by  handing  them  over  to  justice,  or 
sinking  their  bodies  in  the  Mississippi.  The  general  rendezvous 
of  this  gang  of  miscreants  was  on  the  Arkansaw  side  of  the 
river,  where  they  concealed  their  negroes  in  the  morasses  and 
cane-brakes. 

The  depredations  of  this  extensive  combination  were  severely 
felt:  but  so  well  were  their  plans  arranged,  that  although 
Murel,  who  was  always  active,  was  everywhere  suspected,  there 
was  no  proof  to  be  obtained.  It  so  happened,  however,  that  a 
young  man  of  the  name  of  Stewart,  who  was  looking  after  two 
slaves  which  Murel  had  decoyed  away,  fell  in  with  him  and  ob- 
tained his  confidence,  took  the  oath,  and  was  admitted  into  the 
gang  as  one  of  the  general  council.  By  this  means  all  was  dis- 
covered ,-  for  Stewart  turned  traitor,  although  he  had  taken  the 
oath,  and  having  obtained  every  information,  exposed  the  whole 
concern,  the  names  of  all  the  parties,  and  finally  succeeded  in 
bringing  home  sufficient  evidence  against  Murel,  to  procure  his 
conviction  and  sentence  to  the  Penitentiary ;  where  he  now  is. 
(Murel  was  sentenced  to  fourteen  years'  imprisonment;  butas  he 
will,  upon  the  expiration  of  his  time,  be  immediately  prosecuted 
and  sentenced  again  for  similar  deeds  in  other  States,  he  will 
remain  imprisoned  for  life).  So  many  people  who  were  supposed 
to  be  honest,  and  bore  a  respectable  name  in  the  different  States, 
were  found  to  be  among  the  list  of  the  Grnnd  Council  as  pub- 
lished by  Stewart,  that  every  attempt  was  made  to  throw  dis- 
credit upon  his  assertions — his  character  was  vilified,  and  more 
than  one  attempt  was  made  to  assassinate  him.  He  was  obliired 
to  quit  the  Southern  States  in  consequence.  It  is  however 
well  ascertained  to  have  been  all  true ;  and  although 
blame  Mr.  Stewart  for  having  violated  his  oath,  they  no 
attempt  to  deny  that  his  revelations  were  not  correct.  To  un- 
derstand, to  the  full  amount,  the  enormities  committed  by  this 
miscreant  and  his  gang,  the  reader  must  read  the  whole  account 
published  at  New  York ;  I  will  however  just  quote  one  or  two 
portions  of  Murel's  confessions  to  Mr.  Stewart,  made  to  him 
when  they  were  journeying  together.  I  ought  to  have  observed, 
that  the  ultimate  intentions  of  Murel  and  his  associates  were  by 
his  own  account  on  a  very  extended  scale;  having  no  less  an 
object  in  view  than  raising  the  blacks  against  the  whtes,  taking 
possession  of,  and  plundering  New  Orleans,  and  making  them- 
selves possessors  of  the  territory.  The  following  are  a  few  ex- 
tracts from  the  published  work  : — 

"  I  collected  all  my  friends  about  New  Orleans  at  one  of  our 
friend's  hoftses  in  that  place,  and  v\  e  sat  in  council  three  days 


£3^ 

now 

some 
onger 


VVl 


if  .; 


MARRYAT'S    DIARY. 


91 


t:  . 


before  we  got  all  our  plans  to  our  notion ;  we  then  determined 
to  undertake  the  rebellion  at  every  hazard,  and  make  as  many- 
friends  as  we  could  for  that  [purpose.  Every  man's  business 
being  assigned  him,  I  started  to  Naichez  on  foot,  iiaving  sold  my 
horse  in  New  Orleans,  with  the  intention  of  stealing  another 
after  I  started:  I  walked  four  days,  and  no  opportunity  offered 
for  me  to  get  a  horse.  The  fifth  day,  about  twelve,  1  had  become 
tired,  and  stopped  at  a  creek  to  get  some  water  and  rest  a  little. 
While  I  was  sitting  on  a  log,  looking  down  the  road  the 
way  that  I  had  come,  a  man  came  in  sight  riding  on  a 
good-looking  horse.  The  very  moment  I  saw  him,  I  was 
determined  to  have  his  horse,  if  he  was  in  the  garb  of  a 
traveller.  He  rode  up,  and  I  saw  from  his  equipage  that  he 
was  a  traveller.  1  arose  from  a  seat,  and  drew  an  elegant 
rifle  pistol  on  him  and  ordered  him  to  dismount.  He  did  so,  and 
I  took  his  horse  by  the  bridle  and  pointed  down  the  creek,  and 
ordered  him  to  walk  before  me.  He  went  a  few  hundred  yards 
and  stopped.  I  hitched  his  horse,  and  then  made  him  undress 
himseltj  all  to  his  shirt  and  drawers,  and  ordered  him  to  turn  his 
back  to  me.  He  said,  "If  you  are  determined  to  kill  me,  let  me 
have  time  to  pray  before  I  die."  I  told  him  I  had  no  time  to 
hear  him  pray.  He  turned  round  and  dropped  on  his  knees,  and 
I  shot  him  through  the  back  of  the  head.  I  ripped  open  his  belly 
and  took  out  his  entrails,  and  sunk  him  in  the  creek.  I  then 
searched  his  pockets,  and  found  four  hundred  dollars  and  thirty- 
seven  cents,  and  a  number  of  papers  that  I  did  not  take  time  to 
examine.  I  sunk  the  pocket-book  and  papers,  and  his  hat,  in  the 
creek.  His  boots  were  brand  new,  and  fitted  me  genteelly  ;  and 
I  put  them  on  and  sunk  my  old  shoes  in  the  creek,  to  atone  for 
them.  I  rolled  up  his  clothes  and  put  them  into  his  portmanteau, 
as  they  were  brand  new  cloth  of  the  best  quality.  I  mounted  as 
fine  a  horse  as  ever  I  straddled,  and  directed  my  course  for 
Natchez  in  much  better  style  than  I  had  been  for  the  last  five 
days. 

"Myself  and  a  fellow  by  the  name  of  Crenshaw  gathered  four 
good  horses  and  started  for  Georgia.  We  got  in  company  with 
a  young  South  Carolina  just  before  we  got  to  Cumberland  moun- 
tain, and  Crenshaw  soon  knew  all  about  his  business.  He  had 
been  to  Tennessee  to  buy  a  drove  of  hogs,  but  when  he  got  there 
pork  was  dearer  than  he  had  calculated,  and  he  declined  pur- 
chasing. We  concluded  he  was  a  prize.  Crenshaw  winked  at 
me,  I  understood  his  idea.  Crenshaw  had  travelled  the  road  be- 
fore, but  I  never  had  j  we  had  travelled  several  miles  on  the 
mountain,  when  he  passed  near  a  great  precipice ;  just  before  we 
passed  it  Crenshaw  asked  me  for  my  whip,  whicli  had  a  pound 
of  lead  in  the  butt;  I  handed  it  to  him,  and  he  rode  up  by  the 
side  of  the  South  Carolinian,  and  gave  him  a  blow  on  the  side  of 
the  head  and  tumbled  him  from  his  horse  ;  we  lit  from  our  horses 
and  fingered  his  pockets;  we  got  twelve  hundred  and  sixty-two 
dollars.  Crenshaw  said  he  knew  of  a  place  to  hide  him,  and  he 
gathered  him  under  his  arms,  and  I  by  his  feet,  and  conveyed 


Mi  ' 


M 

I 


V-.. 


■■■•rii. 


92 


marryat's  diary. 


I'  i 


him  to  a  deep  crevice  in  the  brow  of  the  precipice,  and  tumbled 
him  into  it,  he  went  out  of  sight;  we  then  tumbled  in  his  sad- 
dle, and  took  his  horse  with  us,  whicii  was  worth  two  hundred 
dollars. 

"  We  were  detained  a  few  days,  and  during  that  time  our 
friend  went  to  a  little  village  in  the  neighbourhood  and  saw  the 
negro  advertised,  and  a  description  of  the  two  men  of  whom  he  had 
been  purchased,  and  giving  his  suspicions  of  the  men.  It  was 
rather  squally  limes,  but  any  port  in  a  storm  :  we  took  the  negro 
that  night  on  the  bank  of  a  creek  which  runs  by  the  farm  of  our 
friend,  and  Crenshaw  shot  him  through  the  head.  We  took  out 
his  entrails  and  sunk  him  in  the  creek. 

'*  He  sold  him  the  third  time  on  Arkansaw  river  for  five  hun- 
dred dollars  ;  and  then  stole  him  and  delivered  him  into  the  hand 
of  his  friend,  who  conducted  him  to  a  swamp,  and  veiled  the 
tragic  scene  and  got  the  last  gleanings  and  sacred  pledge  of 
secresy,  as  agame  of  that  kind  will  not  do  unless  it  ends  in  a  mys- 
tery to  all  but  the  fraternity.  He  sold  that  negro  for  two  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  then  put  him  for  ever  out  of  the  reach  of  all 
pursuers;  and  they  can  never  graze  him  unless  they  can  find 
the  negro;  and  that  they  cannot  do,  for  his  carcass  has  fed  many 
a  tortoise  and  cat-fish  before  this  time,  and  the  frogs  have  sung 
this  many  a  long  day  to  the  silent  repose  of  his  skeleton." 

It  will  be  observed  that  in  the  account  of  his  murders,  by  the 
cold-blooded  villain, whenever  he  conceals  hisvictim  in  thewater, 
he  takes  out  the  entrails.  This  is  because  when  the  entrails 
are  removed,  the  body  will  not  rise  again  to  the  surface  from  the 
generation  of  gas,  occasioned  by  putrefaction. 

As  it  is  but  five  years  since  the  conviction  of  Murel,  it  may 
be  supposed  that  society  cannot  be  much  improved  in  so  short 
a  period.  But  five  years  is  a  long  period,  as  I  have  before 
observed  in  American  history ;  and  some  improvement  has 
already  taken  place,  as  I  shall  hereafter  show;  still  the  state  of 
things  at  present  is  most  lamentable,  as  the  reader  will  acknow- 
ledge, when  he  has  heard  the  facts  which  I  have  collected. 

The  two  great  causes  of  the  present  lawless  state  of  society 
in  the  South  are  a  mistaken  notion  of  physical  courage,  and  a 
total  want  of  moral  courage.  Fiery  and  choleric  in  his  dispo- 
sition, intemperate  in  his  habits,  and  worked  upon  by  the  pe- 
culiarity of  the  climate,  the  Southerner  is  always  ready  to  enter 
into  a  quarrel,  and  prepared  with  pistol  and  bowie-knife  to 
defend  himself.  For  the  latter  he  cannot  well  be  blamed,  for 
in  the  present  state  of  things,  it  is  only  being  prepared  in  self- 
defence  ;  but  at  the  same  time,  the  weapons  being  at  hand,  is 
one  great  cause  of  such  frequent  bloodshed.  To  give  the  lie, 
or  to  use  opprobious  language,  is  considered  sufficient  justifica- 
tion for  using  the  knife  ;  and  as  public  opinion  is  on  the  side  of 
the  party  who  thus  retaliates  on  an  aff'ront,  thefe  is  no  appeal  to 
law,  as  if  there  was,  the  majority  would  never  permit  the  law 
to  be  put  in  force:  the  consequence  is,  that  if  a  man  is  occa- 
sionally tiied  for  murder,  if  any  witness  will  come  forward  to 
prove  that  the  party  murdered  made  use  of  an  offensive  epithet 


to 


evel 

affrl 

the! 

vidi 

thai 

of! 

thati 

as 

the  I 

quaj 

sett 

and 


marryat's  diart. 


93 


f    ^ 


to  the  prisoner,  (and  there  are  always  to  be  found  plenty  of 
people  to  do  this  act  of  kindness,)  he  is  invariably  acquitted. 
The  law  therefore  being  impotent,  is  hardly  ever  resorted  to; 
every  man  takes  the  law  into  his  own  hands,  and  upon  the  least 
affront,  blood  is  certain  to  be  shed.  Strange  to  say,  I  have  heard 
the  system  of  the  South  defended  by  very  respectable  indi- 
viduals. They  say  that,  taking  summary  measures  at  the  time 
that  the  blood  is  up,  is  much  preferable  to  the  general  custom 
of  fighting  a  duel  the  next  day,  which  is  murder  in  cold  blood  ; 
that  this  idea  is  supported  by  the  laws  of  England  is  certain, 
as  it  resolves  murder  into  manslaughter.  But,  unfortunately, 
the  argument  is  not  borne  out,  from  the  simple  fact,  that  the 
quarrels  do  not  with  the  cooling  down  of  the  blood,  and  if  not 
settled  on  the  spot,  they  remain  as  feuds  between  the  parties, 
and  revenge  takes  the  place  of  anger ;  years  will  sometimes 
pass  away,  and  the  insult  or  injury  is  never  forgotten;  and  de- 
liberate, cold-blooded  murder  is  the  result;  for  there  is  no 
warning  given. 

When  I  was  in  Kentucky,  a  man  walked  up  to  Mr.  Prentice, 
the  talented  editor  of  the  Louisville  Journal,  and  without  a  word 
passing,  fired  a  pistol  at  his  head.  Fortunately  the  ball  missed 
him ;  no  notice  was  taken  of  this  attempt  to  murder.  But  I 
have  had  many  other  examples  of  this  kind,  for  if  you  quarrel 
with  a  person  and  the  affair  is  not  decided  at  once,  it  is  consid- 
ered perfectly  justifiable  to  take  your  revenge  whenever  you 
meet  him,  and  in  any  way  you  can.  An  American  gentleman 
told  me  that  he  happened  to  arrive  at  a  town  in  Georgia  with  a 
friend  of  his,  who  went  with  him  to  the  post-office  for  letters. 
This  person  had  had  a  quarrel  with  another  who  resided  in  the 
town ;  but  they  had  not  met  with  each  other  for  seven  years. 
The  town  resident  was  looking  out  of  his  window,  when  they 
went  to  the  post-office  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street ;  he 
recognised  his  enemy,  and  closing  his  shutters  that  he  might 
not  be  seen,  passed  the  muzzle  of  his  rifie  between  them,  and 
shot  him  dead,  as  he  was  with  his  back  to  him  paying  for  his 
letters. 

But  a  more  curious  instance  of  this  custom  was  narrated  to 
me  by  an  eye-witness ;  a  certain  general  had  a  feud  with  another 
person,  and  it  was  perfectly  understood  that  they  were  to  fight 
when  they  met.  It  so  happened,  that  the  general  had  agreed  to 
dine  at  the  public  table  of  the  principal  hotel  in  the  town  with 
some  friends.  When  the  gong  sounded,  and  they  all  hastened 
in,  as  they  do,  to  take  their  places,  he  found  his  antagonist 
seated  with  a  party  of  his  own  friends  directly  opposite  to  him. 
Both  their  pistols  were  out  in  a  moment,  and  were  presented. 
"Would  you  prefer  dining  first?"  said  the  general,  who  was 
remarkable  for  coolness  and  presence  of  mind.  "  I  have  no  ob- 
jection," replied  the  other,  and  the  pistols  were  withdrawn. 
Some  observation,  however,  occasioned  the  pistols  to  be  again 
produced  before  the  dinner  was  over ;  and  then  the  friends  inter- 


■i      1 


ii:    I' 


If 


\  i; 


m 


I!: 


I    ! 

:  I       it 


I' 


94 


MARRY  AT 'd     DIARY. 


fered,  each  party  removing  so  many  feet  above  and  below,  so  as 
to  separate  them. 

A  day  or  two  afterwards  they  again  met  at  the  corner  of  a 
street,  and  the  weapons  were  produced  ;  but  the  general,  who 
had  some  important  business  to  transact,  said,  "  1  believe,  sir,  I 
can,  and  you  know  I  can,  cock  a  pistol  as  soon  as  any  man.  I 
give  you  your  choice;  shall  it  be  now,  or  at  some  future  meet- 
ing?" "  At  some  future  meeting'then,"  replied  his  antagonist, 
"for,  to  confess  the  truth,  general,  I  should  like  to  have  you  at 
an  advantage ,'  that  is  to  say,  1  should  like  to  shoot  you,  when 
your  back  is  turned." 

I  have  observed  that  there  is  a  total  want  of  moral  courage  on 
the  part  of  the  more  respectable  population,  who  will  quietly 
express  their  horror  and  disgust  at  such  scenes,  but  who  will 
never  interfere,  if  the  most  barbarous  murder  is  committed  close 
to  where  they  are  standing.  I  spoke  to  many  gentlemen  on  this 
subject,  expressing  my  surprise;  ihe  invariable  answer  was, 
*'  If  we  interfered  we  should  only  hurt  ourselves,  and  do  no 
good ;  in  all  probability  we  should  have  the  quarrel  fixed  upon 
ourselves,  and  risk  our  own  lives,  for  a  man  whom  we  neither 
know  nor  care  about." 

In  one  case  only,  the  Southerners  hang  together,  which  is  if 
the  quarrel  is  with  a  stranger.  Should  the  stranger  have  the 
best  of  it,  all  the  worse  for  him;  for,  by  their  own  understand- 
ing, the  stranger  must  be  whipped.  (Whipping  is  the  term  for 
beingconquered,  whether  the  contest  is  with  or  without  weapons.) 
No  stranger  can  therefore  escape,  if  he  gets  into  a  quarrel ;  al- 
though they  fight  with  each  other,  on  this  point  the  Southerners 
are  all  agreed,  and  there  is  no  chance  of  escape. 

A  striking  proof  of  indifference  to  human  life  shown  by  the 
authorities  took  place  when  I  was  in  the  West.  Colonel  C. 
returning  with  his  regiment  from  Florida,  passed  through  a  town 
in  the  State  of  Tennessee.  In  a  quarrel,  one  of  his  soldiers 
murdered  a  citizen ;  and  the  colonel,  who  respected  the  laws, 
immediately  sent  the  soldier  as  a  prisoner,  with  a  corporal's 
guard,  to  be  handed  over  to  the  authorities.  The  authorities 
returned  their  thanks  to  the  colonel  for  his  kind  attention,  were 
very  much  obliged  to  him  :  but  as  for  the  man,  they  did  not  want 
him^ — so  the  soldier  marched  off  with  the  rest  of  the  detachment. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  in  this  representation  of  society, 
I  chiefly  refer  to  the  humbler  classes.  I  refer  to  those  who  are 
considered  as,  and  who,  if  wealth,  and  public  employment  may 
be  said  to  constitute  gentility,  are  the  gentlemen  of  the  States 
bordering  on  the  Mississippi.  My  readers  may  perhaps  recol- 
lect a  circumstance  which  occurred  but  a  short  time  ago,  when 
a  member  of  the  House  of  Legislature  in  the  State  of  Arkansas, 
who  had  a  feud  with  the  Speaker  of  the  House,  upon  his  enter- 
ing the  hall,  was  rushed  upon  by  the  Speaker,  and  stabbed  to 
the  heart  with  a  bowie-knife.  What  was  the  result  1  What 
steps  were  taken  on  the  committal  of  such  a  foul  murder  in  the 
very  hall  of  legislature  !  such  a  precedent  of  example  shown  to 


ihel 

whj 

bar! 


marryat's  diary. 


95 


■It 


I-  i 


to 
at 


i 


the  State,  by  one  of  its  most  important  members  ?  The  follow- 
ing American  account,  will  show  what  law,  what  justice,  and 
what  a  jury  is  to  be  found  in  this  region  of  unprecedented 
barbarism ! 

"  Jl  most  Disgraceful  Affair, 
"  Our  readers  will  perhaps  recollect  the  circumstance  which 
occurred  in  the  legislature  of  Arkansas,  when  a  member  was 
killed  by  the  Speaker.  The  Little  Rock  Gazette  gives  the 
following  picture  of  the  state  of  public  feeling  in  that  most 
civilized  country  : — 

"Three  (lays  had  elapsed  before  the  constituted  authorities 
took  any  notice  of  this  terrible,  this  murderous  deed,  and  not 
even  then  until  a  relation  of  the  murdered  Anthony  had  de- 
manded a  warrant  for  the  apprehension  of  Wilson.  Several 
days  then  elapsed  before  he  was  brought  before  an  examining 
court;  he  then,  in  a  carriage  and  four,  came  to  the  place  ap- 
pointed for  his  trial.  Four  or  five  days  were  employed  in  the 
examination  of  witnesses,  and  never  was  a  clearer  case  of 
murder  proved  than  on  that  occasion.  Notwithstanding,  the 
court  (Justice  Brown  dissenting)  admitted  Wilson  to  bail,  and 
positively  refused  that  the  prosecuting  attorney  for  the  State 
should  introduce  the  law,  to  show  that  it  was  not  a  bailable 
case,  or  even  to  hear  an  argument  from  him,  and  the  counsel 
associated  with  him  to  prosecute  Wilson  for  the  murder. 

"  At  the  time  appointed  for  the  session  of  the  Circuit  Court, 
Wilson  appeared  agreeably  to  his  recognizance  ;  a  motion  was 
made  by  Wilson's  counsel  for  a  change  of  ue/iue,  founded  on  the 
affidavits  of  Wilson  and  two  other  men.  One  staled  in  his 
affidavit,  that  '  nine-tenths  of  the  people  of  Pulaski  had  made 
up  and  expressed  their  opinions,  and  that  therefore  it  would  be 
unsafe  for  Wilson  to  be  tried  in  Pulaski ;'  and  the  other,  that, 
♦  from  the  repeated  occurrence  of  similar  acts  within  the  last 
four  or  five  years  in  this  country,  the  people  w?re  disposed  to 
act  rigidly,  and  that  it  would  be  unsafe  for  Wilson  to  be  tried 
in  Pulaski,'  Tl;e  court  thereupon  removed  Wilson  to  Saline 
county,  and  ordered  the  sheriff  to  take  Wilson  into  custody,  and 
deliver  him  over  to  the  sheriff  of  Saline  county. 

"The  sheriff  of  Pulaski  never  confined  Wilson  one  minute, 
but  permitted  him  to  go  where  he  pleased,  without  a  guard  or 
any  restraint  imposed  upon  him  whatever.  On  his  way  to 
Saline  he  entertained  him  freely  at  his  own  house,  and  the  next 
day  delivered  him  over  to  the  sheriff  of  that  county,  who  con- 
ducted the  prisoner  to  the  debtors'  room  in  the  jail  and  gave  him 
the  key,  so  that  everybody  else  had  free  egress  and  ingress  at 
all  times.  Wilson  invited  everybody  to  call  on  him,  and  he 
wished  to  see  his  friends,  and  his  room  was  crowded  with 
visitors,  who  called  to  drink  grog  and  laugh  and  talk  with  him. 
But  this  theatre  was  not  sufficiently  large  for  this  purpose;  he 
afterwards  visited  the  dram-shops,  where  he  freely  treated  all 
that  would  partake  with  him,  and  went  fishing  and  hunting 
with  others  at  pleasure,  and  entirely  without  restraint;  he  also 
ate  at  the  same  table  with  the  judge  while  on  trial. 


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fn-t-' 


i  il 


w-  ! 


!■  . 


marryat's  diary. 


"  When  the  court  met  at  Saline,  Wilson  was  pnt  on  his  trial. 
Several  days  were  occupied  in  examining  witnesses  in  the  case; 
after  the  examination  was  closed,  while  Colonel  Taylor  was 
engaged  in  a  very  able,  lucid,  and  argumentative  speech  on  the 
part  of  the  prosecution,  some  man  collected  a  parcel  of  the  rab- 
ble, and  came  within  a  few  yards  of  the  court-house  door,  and 
bawled,  in  a  loud  voice,  '  Pan  them — part  them  !'  Everybody 
supposed  there  was  an  affray,  and  ran  to  the  door  and  windows 
to  see,  and  behold  there  was  nothing  more  than  the  man  and  the 
rabble  he  had  collected  round  him  for  the  purpose  of  annoying 
Colonel  Taylor  while  speaking.  A  few  minutes  afterwards  this 
same  person  brought  a  horse  near  the  court-house  door,  and 
commenced  crying  the  horse,  as  though  he  were  for  sale,  and 
continued  for  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  to  ride  before  the  court-house 
door,  crying  the  horse  in  a  loud  and  boisterous  tone  of  voice. 
The  judge  sat  as  a  silent  listener  to  the  indignity  thus  offered 
the  court  and  counsel  by  this  man,  without  interposing  his 
authority 

'*  To  show  the  depravity  of  the  times  and  the  people,  after 
the  verdict  had  been  delivered  by  the  jury,  and  the  court  in- 
formed Wilson  thai  he  was  discharged,  there  was  a  rush  to- 
wards him  ;  some  seized  him  by  the  hand,  some  by  the  arm,  and 
there  was  great  and  loud  rejoicing  and  exultation  directly  in  the 
presence  of  the  court,  and  Wilson  told  the  sheriff  to  take  the 
jury  to  a  grocery  that  he  might  treat  them,  and  invited  every 
body  that  chose  to  go.  The  house  was  soon  filled  to  overflow- 
ing, and  it  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  some  men  who  have 
held  a  good  standing  in  society  followed  the  crowd  to  the  gro- 
cery and  partook  of  Wilson's  treat.  The  rejoicing  was  kept  up 
till  near  supper  time;  but,  to  cap  the  climax,  soon  after  supper 
was  over  a  majority  of  the  jury,  together  with  many  others, 
went  to  the  room  ihat  had  been  occupied  for  several  days  by  the 
friend  and  relation  of  the  murdered  Anthony,  and  commenced  a 
scene  of  the  most  ridiculous  dancing  (as  it  is  believed)  in  tri- 
umph for  Wilson,  and  as  a  triumph  over  the  feelings  of  the  re- 
lation of  the  dei)arted  Anthony.  The  scene  did  not  end  here. 
The  party  retired  .o  a  dram-shop,  and  continued  their  rejoicings 
until  about  half-after  ten  o'clock.  They  then  collected  a  parcel 
of  horns,  trumpets,  &c.,  and  marched  through  the  streets  blow- 
ing them  till  near  day,  when  one  of  the  company  rode  his  horse 
into  the  porch  adjoining  the  room  which  was  occupied  by  the 
relation  of  the  deceased. 

"  These  are  some  of  the  facts  that  took  place  during  the  pro- 
gress of  the  trial,  and  after  its  close.  The  whole  proceedings 
have  been  conducted  more  like  a  farce  than  anything  else,  and 
it  is  a  disgrace  to  the  country  in  which  this  fatal,  this  horrible 
massacre  has  happened,  that  there  should  be  in  it  men  so  lost  to 
every  virtue,  of  feeling  and  humanity,  to  sanction  and  give 
countenance  to  such  a  bloody  deed.  Wilson's  hand  is  now 
stained  with  the  blood  of  a  worthy  and  unoffending  man. 
The  seal  of  disapprobation  must  for  ever  rest  upon  him  in 


the  e( 
munitl 
not  wl 
Arkar 
the  fr^ 
charac 
this  ml 
stance! 
ofacq( 

To 
justice 
ever, 
tjpeakil 


noon, 


imr 


MARRYAT'S   DIARY. 


97 


ihe  estimation  of  the  honest,  well-meaning  portion  of  the  com 
munity.  Humanity  shudders  at  the  bloody  deed,  and  ages  can- 
not wipe  away  the  stain  which  he  has  brouofht  upon  his  country. 
Arkansas,  therefore,  the  mock  of  the  other  States  on  account  of 
the  frequent  murders  and  assassinations  which  iiave  marked  her 
character,  has  now  to  be  branded  with  the  stain  of  this  horrible, 
this  murderous  deed,  rendered  still  more  odious  from  the  circum- 
stance that  a  jury  of  twelve  men  should  h«ive  rendered  a  verdict 
of  acquittal  contrary  to  law  and  evidence." 

To  quote  the  numerous  instances  of  violation  of  all  law  and 
justice  in  these  new  States  would  require  volumes.  I  will,  how- 
ever, support  my  evidence  with  tiiat  of  Miss  Martineau,  who, 
h^peakincr  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  says — 

"  It  is  certainly  the  place  to  become  rich  in,  but  the  state  of 
society  is  fearful.  One  of  my  hosts,  a  man  of  jrreat  gocxl-nature, 
as  he  shows  in  the  treatment  of  his  slaves  and  in  his  family  rela- 
tions, had  been  stabbed  in  the  back,  in  the  reading-room  of  the 
town,  two  years  before,  and  no  prosecution  was  instituted.  An- 
otlier  of  my  hosts  carried  loaded  pistols  for  a  fortnight,  just  before 
I  arrived,  knowing  that  he  was  lam  in  wait  for  by  persons  against 
whose  illegal  practices  he  had  given  information  to  a  magistrate, 
whose  carriage  was  therefore  broken  in  pieces  and  thrown  into 
the  river.  A  lawyer,  with  whom  we  were  in  company  one  after- 
noon, was  sent  to  take  the  deposition  of  a  dying  inun,  who  had 
been  sitting  with  his  family  in  the  shade,  when  he  received  three 
balls  in  the  hack  from  three  men  who  took  aim  at  him  from  be- 
hind trees.  The  tales  of  jail-breaking  and  rescue  were  number- 
less; and  a  lady  of  Montgomery  told  me,  that  she  had  lived 
there  four  years,  during  which  time  no  day,  she  believed,  had 
passed  without  some  one's  life  having  been  attempted  either  by 
duelling  or  assassination." 

The  rapid  increase  of  population  in  the  far  West,  and  the 
many  respectable  people  who  have  lately  migrated  there,  to- 
gether with  the  Texas  having  now  become  ''^e  refuge  of  those 
whose  presence  even  the  Southern  States  ■  no  longer  toler- 
ate, promise  very  soon  to  produce  a  change  The  cities  have 
already  set  the  example  by  purifying  themselves.  Natchez,  the 
lower  town  of  which  was  a  Pandemonium,  lias  cleansed  herself 
to  a  very  great  extent.  Vicksburg  has  by  its  salutary  Lynch 
law  relieved  herself  of  the  infamous  gamblers,  and  New  Orleans, 
in  whose  streets  murders  were  daily  occurring,  is  now  one  of  the 
safest  towns  in  the  Union. 

This  regeneration  in  New  Orleans  was  principally  brought 
about  by  the  exertions  of  the  English  and  American  merchants 
from  the  Eastern  States,  who  established  an  effectual  police,  and 
having  been  promised  support  by  the  State  legislature,  deter- 
mined to  make  an  example  of  the  very  first  party  who  should 
commit  a  murder.  It  so  happened,  that  the  first  person  who 
was  guilty,  was  a  Colonel  or  Mr.  Whittaker  of  Louisiana,  a  per- 
son well  connected,  and  of  a  wealthy  family.  In  a  state  of  in- 
toxication he  entered  the  bar  of  an  hotel,  and  affronted  at  the 
bar-keeper  not  paying  immediate  attention  to  his  wishes,  be 

9 


)f',\ 


!• 


r 


f 


3,  i 


I.  - 
.'I  i 


H  i 


98 


MARRYAT  S    DIART. 


w 


it      ■  ,i 


1^ 


rushed  upon  the  unfortunate  man,  and  literally  cut  him  to  piece* 
witli  his  heavy  Bowie  knife. 

He  was  put  in  prison,  tried  and  condemued.  Every  efTort 
was  made  to  save  him,  both  by  force  and  perseverance,  but  in 
vain.  Finding  that  he  must  really  suffer  the  penalty  of  the  law, 
his  friends  to  avoid  the  disgrace  of  a  public  execution,  provided 
him  with  the  means,  andhe  destroyed  himself  in  the  prison  the 
night  before  his  execution.  So  unexpected  was  this  act  of  jus- 
tice, that  it  created  the  greatest  sensation ;  it  was  looked  upon 
as  a  legal  murder ;  his  body  being  made  over  to  his  relations, 
was  eecorted  to  his  home  with  great  parade;  the  militia  were 

turned  out  to  receive  it  with  military  honours,  and  General , 

who  set  up  tor  the  governorship  of  Louisiana,  pronounced  the 
funeral  eulogy  !!! 

But  this  decided  and  judicious  step  was  attended  with  the  best 
results;  and  now  that  tliere  is  an  active  police,  and  it  is  known 
'  that  a  irmrderer  will  be  executed,  you  may  safely  walk  the  streets 
of  New  Orleans  on  the  darkest  nights. 

To  show,  however,  how  difficult  it  is  to  eradicate  bad  habits,  a 
gentleman  told  me  ihat  it  being  the  custom  when  the  Quadroon 
balls  were  given  at  New  Orleans,  for  the  police  to  search  every 
person  on  entering,  and  taking  away  his  bowie-knife,  the  young 
man  would  resort  to  the  following  contrivance.  The  knives  of  a 
dozen  perhaps  were  confided  to  one,  who  remained  outside  ;  the 
others  entered,  and  being  searched  were  passed ;  they  then 
opened  one  of  the  ball-room  windows,  and  let  down  a  string,  to 
which  the  party  left  outside  fastened  all  their  knives  as  well  as 
his  own  ;  they  were  hauled  up,  he  then  entered  himself,  and  each 
person  regained  his  knite.  The  reason  for  these  precautions 
being  taken  by  the  police  was,  that  the  women  being  all  of 
colour,  their  evidence  was  not  admissible  in  a  court  of  justice  ; 
and  no  evidence  could  be  obtained  from  the  young  men,  should 
a  murder  have  been  committed. 

But  although  some  of  the  towns  have,  as  I  have  pointed  out, 
effected  a  great  reformation,  the  state  of  society  in  general  in 
these  States  is  still  most  lamentable ;  and  there  is  little  or  no 
security  for  life  and  property ;  and  what  is  to  be  much  deplored, 
the  evil  extends  to  other  States  which  otherwise  would  much 
sooner  become  civilized. 

This  arises  from  the  Southern  habits  of  migrating  to  the  other 
States  during  the  unhealthy  months.  During  the  rest  of  the  year 
tney  remain  on  their  properties,  living  perhaps  in  a  miserable 
log-house,  and  almost  in  a  state  of  nature,  laying  up  dollars  and 
attending  carefully  to  their  business.  But  as  soon  as  the  autumn 
comes,  it  is  the  time  for  holiday,  they  dress  themselves  in  their 
best  clothes,  and  setoff  to  amuse  themselves;  spend  their  money 
and  pass  off  for  gentlemen.  Their  resorts  are  chiefly  the  States 
of  Virginia,  Kentucky,  and  Ohio;  where  the  springs,  Cincinnati, 
Louisville,  and  other  towns  are  crowded  with  them ;  they  pass 
their  time  in  constant  revelling,  many  of  them  being  seldom  free 
from  the  effects  of  liquor ;  aad  I  must  say,  that  I  never  in  my 
life  heard  such  awful  swearing  as  many  of  them  are  guilty  of. 
Every  sentence  is  commenced  with  some  tremendous  oaih,  wfiich 


MARRTAT'S   DIAUY. 


99 


rcnlly  liorrifieB  you ;  in  fact,  although  in  tire  dress  of  gentlemen, 
m  no  other  point  can  they  lay  any  pretensions  to  the  title.  Of 
co'irse,  I  am  now  speaking  of  the  mass;  there  are  many  excep- 
tions, but  even  these  go  with  the  stream,  and  make  no  efforts  to 
resist  it.  Content  with  not  practieing  these  vices  themselves, 
tliey  have  not  the  courage  to  protest  against  thorn  in  (»ther«. 

In  the  Raslern  States  the  »i8b  of  the  knilift  was  opposed  to 
general  feeling,  as  it  is,  or  as  1  regrfi  to  say*  as  it  usui  to  he  in 
this  country.  I  was  passing  down  IlroadwHy  in  New  York, 
when  a  scoundrel  of  a  carman  flogged  with  his  whip  a  young 
Southern  who  had  a  lady  under  his  protection.  Justly  irritated, 
and  no  match  for  the  sturdy  ruffian  in  physical  strength,  the 
■young  man  was  so  imprudent  as  to  draw  his  knife,  and  throw  it 
Indian  fashion  ;  and  for  so  doing,  he  was  with  difficulty  saved 
from  the  indignation  of  the  people. 

Ohio  is  chiefly  populated  by  Eastern  people;  yet  to  my  sur- 
prise when  at  Cincinnati,  a  row  took  place  in  the  theatre,  bowie- 
knives  were  drawn  by  several.  I  never  had  an  idea  that  there 
was  such  a  weapon  worn  there  ;  but  as  1  afterwards  discovered, 
they  were  worn  in  self  defence,  because  the  Southe»ners  carried 
them.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the  States  of  Virginia  and 
Kentucky,  which  are  really  now  in  many  portions  of  them  civil- 
ized States;  but  the  regular  inroad  of  the  Southerners  every 
year  keeps  up  a  system,  which  would  before  this  have  very 
probably  become  obsolete;  but  as  it  is,  the  duel  at  sight,  and 
the  knife,  is  resorted  to  in  these  States,  as  well  as  in  the  Missis- 
sippi. This  lamentable  state  of  society  must  exist  for  some 
time  yet,  as  civilization  progresses  but  slowly  in  some  of  the 
slave  States.  Some  improvement  has  of  late  been  made,  as  I 
have  pointed  out ;  but  it  is  chiefly  the  lower  class  of  miscreants 
who  have  been  rooted  out,  not  the  gentleman  assassins  ;  for  I  can 
give  them  no  other  title. 

The  women  of  the  South  appear  to  have  their  passions  eqtiai- 
ly  violent  with  the  men.  When  I  was  at  Louisville,  a  married 
lady  for  some  fancied  aff'ront  insisted  upon  her  husband  whipping 
another  gentlemen.  The  husband  not  wishing  to  get  a  broken 
head,  expostulated,  upon  which  she  replied,  that  if  he  did  not 
she  would  find  some  othe  gentleman  to  do  it  for  her.  The  hus- 
band who  probably  was  aware  that  these  services  are  not  with- 
out their  reward,  went  accordingly,  and  had  a  turn-up  in  obe- 
dience to  the  lady's  wishes. 

It  appears  to  me,  that  it  is  the  Southern  ladies,  and  the  ladies 
alone,  who  can  affect  any  reformation  in  these  points.  They  have 
great  sway,  and  if  they  were  to  form  an  association,  and  declare 
that  they  would  not  marry  or  admit  into  their  company  any 
n  an  who  carried  a  bowie-knife  or  other  weapons,  that  they  would 
■prevail,  when  nothing  else  will.  This  would  be  a  glorious 
achievement,  and  I  am  convinced  from  the  chivalry  towards 
women  shown  by  the  Southerners  on  every  occasion,  that  they 
might  be  prevailed  upon  by  them  to  leave  off  customs  so  disgrace- 
ful, so  demoralizing,  and  so  incompatible  with  the  true  princi- 
ples of  hojaour  aad  Christianity. 


iii 


■i  ' 


i 


In 

••  • 

m 


f 

f 

!■■!  I 


i; 


V'Y 


h 


;  I 


I 


j ) 


Vi 


100 


maruyat's  diauy. 


M 


\H 


CHAPTKR  IX. 


SOCIETY. — WOMEN. 


The  women  of  America  are  unqiipstionably.  physically,  a» 
far  as  beauty  is  eoncorneil,  ami  morally,  of  a  hisiher  standanl 
than  the  men  ;  nevoriheless  Ihey  have  not  that  itifliience  which 
they  oufrht  to  possess.  In  my  former  remarks  upon  the  women 
of  Amenca  I  Ir.ive  said,  that  they  are  ihe  prelliesl  in  the  world, 
and  I  have  put  the  word  prrtHest  in  italics,  as  I  considered  it  a 
term  peculiarly  appropriate  to  the  American  women.  In  many 
points  the  Americans  have,  to  a  certain  dejjrree,  arrived  at  that 
equality  which  they  profess  to  covet;  and  in  no  one,  perhaps, 
more  than  in  the  fair  distribution  of  jrood  looks  among  the 
women.  'I'his  is  easily  accounted  for:  there  is  not  to  be  found, 
on  the  one  hand,  that  squalid  wretciiedness,  that  half-starved 
growing  up,  that  disease  and  misery,  nor  on  the  other,  that 
hereditary  refinement,  that  inoculation  of  the  beautiful,  from  the 
constant  association  with  the  fine  arts,  that  careful  nurture;  and 
constant  attention  to  health  and  exercise,  which  exist  in  the 
dense  population  of  the  cities  of  the  Old  World  ;  and  occasion 
those  variations  from  extreme  plainness  to  the  perfection  of 
beauty  which  are  to  be  seen,  particularly  in  the  metropolis  of 
England.  In  the  United  States,  where  neither  the  excess  of 
misery  nor  of  luxury  and  refinement  are  known,  you  have, 
therefore,  a  more  equal  distribution  of  good  looks,  and,  although 
you  often  meet  with  beatiful  women,  it  is  but  rarely  that  you 
find  one  that  may  be  termed  ill-favoured.  The  coup-d'ail  is, 
therefore,  more  pleasing  in  America — enter  society,  and  turn 
your  eyes  in  any  direction,  you  will  everywhere  find  cause  for 
pleasure,  although  seldom  any  of  annoyance.  The  climate  is 
not,  however,  favourable  to  beauty,  which,  compared  to  tho 
English,  is  very  transitory,  especially  in  the  Eastern  States; 
and  when  a  female  arrives  at  the  age  of  thirty,  its  reign  is, 
generally  speaking,  over. 

The  climate  of  the  Western  States  appears,  Iwwever,  more 
favourable  to  it,  and  I  think  I  saw  more  handsome  women  at 
Cincinnati  than  in  any  other  city  of  the  Union  ;  their  figures 
were  more  perfect,  and  they  were  finer  grown,  not  receiving  the 
sudden  checks  to  which  the  Eastern  women  are  exposed. 

Generally  speaking,  but  a  small  interval  elapses  between  the 
period  of  American  girls  leaving  school  and  their  entering  upon 
their  duties  as  wives  ;  but  during  that  period,  whetever  it  may 
be,  they  are  allowed  more  liberty  than  the  young  people  in  our 
country  ;  walkingout  wiihoutc/zo/jcn/ws,  and  visiting  their  friends 
as  they  please.  There  is  a  reason  for  this:  the  matrons  are 
compelled,  from  the  insuflUciency  of  their  domestics,  to  attend 
personally  to  all  the  various  duties  of  housekeeping;  their  fathers 
and  brothers  are  all  employed  in  their  respective  money-making 
transactions,  and  a  servant  cannot  be  spared  from  American 
establishments ;  if,  therefore,  they  are  to  walk  out  and  take  exer- 
cise, it  must  be  alone,  and  this  can  be  done  in  the  United  States 


witlJ 
everl 
at  1( 

fiorttl 
eavi 
encel 
8ho> 
marri 
be  cl 
certal 
sels 
ex'^etl 
joritj 
they 
whic 
whic 


•4 


marrtatS  diary. 


101 


I '  ■■ 


with  more  (lAcurity  than  elsewhere,  from  the  circumstance  of 
everybody  being  actively  employed,  and  there  being  no  people 
at  leisure  who  are  strolling  or  idling  about.     1  think  that  the 

f)ortion  of  time  which  elapses  between  the  period  uf  a  young  girl 
eaving  school  and  being  married,  is  the  happiest  of  her  exist- 
ence. I  have  already  remarked  upon  the  attention  and  gallantry 
shown  by  the  Americans  to  the  women,  especially  to  the  un- 
married. This  is  carried  to  an  extent  which,  in  England,  would 
be  considered  by  our  young  women  as  no  compliment;  to  a 
certain  degree  it  pervades  every  class,  and  even  the  sable  dam- 
sels have  no  reason  to  complain  of  not  being  treated  with  the 
express  of  politeness  ;  but  in  my  opinion,  (and  I  believe  the  ma- 
jority of  the  American  women  will  admit  the  correctness  of  it,) 
they  do  notconf^ider  themselves  flattered  by  a  species  of  homage 
which  is  paying  no  compliment  to  their  good  sense,  and  after 
which  the  usual  attentions  of  an  Englishman  to  the  sex  are  by 
some  considered  as  amounting  to  hauteur  and  neglect. 

Be  it  as  it  may,  the  American  women  are  not  spoiled  by  this 
universal  adulation  which  thoy  receive  previous  to  their  mar- 
riage. It  is  not  that  one  is  selected  for  her  wealth  or  extreme 
beauty  to  the  exception  of  all  others;  in  such  a  case  it  might 
prove  dangerous;  but  it  is  a  flattery  paid  to  the  whole  sex,  given 
to  all,  and  received  as  a  matter  of  course  by  all,  and  therefore  it 
does  no  mischief.  It  does,  however,  prove  what  I  have  said  at 
the  commencement  of  this  chapter,  which  is,  that  the  women 
have  not  that  influence  which  they  are  entitled  to,  and  which, 
for  the  sake  of  morality,  it  is  to  be  lamented  that  they  have  not; 
when  men  respect  women  they  do  not  attempt  to  make  fools  of 
them,  but  treat  them  as  rational  and  immortal  beings,  and  thiti 
general  adulation  is  cheating  them  with  the  shadow,  while  they 
withhold  from  them  the  substance. 

I  have  said  that  the  period  between  her  emancipation  from 
school  and  her  marriage  is  the  happiest  portion  of  an  American 
woman's  existence;  indeed  it  has  remindexl  me  of  the  fetes  and 
amusements  given  in  a  Catholic  country  to  a  young  girl  previ- 
ous to  her  taking  the  veil,  and  being  immured  from  the  world ; 
for  the  duties  of  a  wife  in  America  aie  from  circumstances  very 
onerous,  and  I  consider  her  existence  afler  that  period  as  but  one 
of  negative  enjoyment.  And  yet  she  appears  anxious  to  abridge 
even  this  small  portion  of  freedom  and  happiness,  for  n)arriage  is 
considered  almost  as  a  business,  or,  I  should  say,  a  duty,  an  idea 
probably  handed  down  by  the  first  settlers,  to  whom  an 
increase  of  population  was  of  such  vital  importance.""  How- 
ever much    the  Americans    may  wish  tq   deny  it,  I  am  in- 

*  Bigamy  is  not  uncommon  in  the  United  States  from  the  wo- 
men  being  in  too  great  a  hurry  to  marry,  and  not  obtaining  suffi. 
cient  information  relative  to  their  suitors.  The  punishment  is  chip- 
ping stone  in  Sing  Sing  for  a  few  years.  It  must,  however,  be  ad- 
mitted, that  when  a  foreigner  is  the  party,  it  is  rather  difficult  to  as- 
certain whether  the  gentlemen  has  or  has  not  left  an  old  wife  or  two 
in  the  Old  World. 


■If  \ 


■f 


I 


i;   t-l 


102 


marryat's  diart. 


W  4 

in:  l! 


r: 


mi 


Mf 


H    '\ 


clined  to  think  that  there  are  more  marriages  of  convenance  in  the 
United  States  than  in  most  other  countries.  The  men  begin  to 
calculate  long  before  they  are  of  an  age  to  marry,  and  it  is  not 
very  likely  that  they  would  calculate  so  well  upon  all  other 
points,  and  not  upon  the  value  of  a  dowry  ;  moreover,  the  old 
people  "calculate  some,"  and  the  girls  accept  an  offer  without 
their  hearts  being  seriously  compromised.  Of  course  there  are, 
exceptions:  but  I  do  not  think  that  there  are  many  love  matches 
made  in  America,  and  one  reason  for  my  holding  this  opinion  is, 
my  having  discovered  how  quietly  matches  are  broken  off  and 
new  engagements  entered  into  ;  and  it  is,  perhaps,  fron  a  know- 
ledge of  this  fact,  arising  from  the  calculating  spirit  of  the  gen- 
tlemen, who  are  apt  to  consider  20,000  dollars  as  preferable  to 
10,000,  that  the  American  girls  are  not  too  hasty  in  surrender- 
ing their  hearts. 

I  knew  a  young  lady  who  was  engaged  to  an  acquaintance  of 
mine  ;  on  my  return  to  their  city  a  short  time  afterwards,  I  found 
that  the  match  was  broken  off,  and  that  she  was  engaged  to  an- 
other,  and  nothing  was  thought  of  it.  1  do  not  argue  from  this 
simple  instance,  but  because  I  found,  on  talking  about  it,  that  it 
was  a  very  common  circumstance,  and  because,  where  scandal 
is  so  rife,  no  remarks  were  made.  If  a  young  lady  behaves  in 
a  way  so  as  to  give  offence  to  the  gentleman  she  is  engaged  to, 
and  sufficiently  indecorous  to  warrant  his  breaking  off  the  match, 
he  is  gallant  to  the  very  last,  for  he  writes  to  her,  and  begs  that 
she  will  dismiss  him.  This  I  knew  to  be  done  by  a  party  I  was 
acquainted  with;  he  told  me  that  it  was  considered  good  taste, 
and  I  agreed  with  him.  On  the  whole,  I  hold  it  very  fortunate 
that  in  American  marriages  there  is,  generally  S|)eaking,  more 
prudence  than  love  on  both  sides,  for  from  the  peculiar  habits 
and  customs  of  the  country,  a  woman  who  loved  without  pru- 
dence would  not  feel  very  happy  as  a  wife. 

Let  us  enter  into  an  examination  of  the  married  life  in  the 
United  States. 

All  the  men  in  America  are  busy;  their  whole  time  is  en- 
grossed by  their  accumulation  of  money;  they  breakfast  early 
and  repair  to  their  stores  or  counting-houses;  the  majority  of  them 
do  not  go  home  to  dinner,  but  eat  at  the  nearest  tavern  or  oyster- 
cellar,  for  they  arenerally  live  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
business  part  of  the  town,  and  time  is  too  precious  to  be  thrown 
away.  It  would  be  supposed  that  they  would  be  home  to  an  early 
tea;  many  are,  hut  the  majority  are  not.  After  fagging,  they 
require  recreation,  and  the  recreations  of  most  Americans  are 
politics  and  news,  besides  the  chance  of  doing  a  little  more  busi- 
ness, all  of  which,  with  drink,  are  to  be  obtained  at  the  bars  of 
the  principal  commercial  hotels  in  the  city".  The  consequence 
it,  that  the  major  portion  of  them  come  home  late,  tired,  and  go 
to  bed;  early  the  next  morning  they  are  off  to  their  busmess 
again.  Here  it  is  evident  that  the  women  do  not  have  much  of 
their  husband's  society  ;  nor  do  I  consider  this  arising  from  any 
want  of  inclination  on  the  part  of  the  husbands,  as  there  is  an 
absolute  necessity  that  they  should  work  as  hard  as  others  if 
tliey  wish  to  do  well,  and  what  one  does,  the  other  must  do. 


MARRYAt's    DIARi'. 


103 


Even  frequenting  the  bar  is  almost  a  necessity,  for  it  is  there 
that  they  obtain  an  the  information  of  the  day.  But  the  result 
is  that  the  married  women  are  left  alone ;  their  husbands  are  not 
their  companions,  and  if  they  could  be,  still  the  majority  of  the 
husbands  would  not  be  suitable  companions  for  th«  following 
reasons.  An  American  starts  into  life  at  so  early  an  age  that 
what  he  has  gained  at  school,  with  the  exception  of  that  portion 
brought  into  use  from  his  business,  is  lost.  He  has  no  time  for 
reading,  except  the  rfewspaper  ;  all  his  thoughts  and  ideas  are 
centred  in  his  employment;  he  becomes  perfect  in  that,  acquires  a 
gr  .'at  deal  of  practical  knowledge  useful  for  making  money,  but  for 
little  else.  This  he  must  do  if  he  would  succeed,  and  the  major 
portion  confine  themselves  to  such  k  nowledge  alone.  But  with  the 
momen  it  is  different;  their  education  is  much  more  extended 
than  that  of  the  men,  because  they  are  more  docile,  and  easier  to 
control  in  their  youth ;  and  when  they  are  married,  although 
their  duties  are  much  more  onerous  than  with  us,  still,  during 
the  long  days  and  evenings,  during  which  they  wait  for  the 
return  of  their  husbands,  they  have  time  to  finish,  I  may  say, 
their  own  educations  and  improve  their  minds  by  reading.  The 
consequence  of  this  with  other  adjuncts,  is  that  their  minds 
become,  and  reslly  are,  much  more  cultivated  and  refined  than 
those  of  their  husbands;  and  when  the  universal  practice  of  using 
tobacco  and  drinkinor  amongf  the  latter  is  borne  in  mind,  it  will 
be  readily  admitted  that  they  are  also  much  more  refined  in 
their  persons. 

These  are  the  causes  why  the  American  women  are  so  uni- 
versally admired  by  the  English  and  other  nations,  while  they 
do  not  consider  the  men  as  equal  to  them  either  i'l  manners  or 
personal  appearance.  Let  it  be  borne  in  mind  that  I  am  now 
speaking  of  the  majority,  and  that  the  exceptions  are  very  nu- 
merous ;  for  instance,  you  may  except  one  whole  profession, 
that  of  the  lawyers,  among  whom  you  will  find  no  want  of  gen- 
tlemen or  men  oi"  highly  cnltivated  minds;  indeed,  the  same 
may  be  said  with  respect  to  most  of  the  liberal  professions,  but 
only  so  because  their  profession  allows  that  time  for  improving 
themselves  which  the  American  in  general,  in  his  struggle  on 
the  race  for  wealth,  carmot  atFord  to  spare. 

As  1  have  before  observed,  the  ambition  of  the  American  is 
from  circumstances  mostly  directed  to  but  one  object — that  of 
rapidly  raising  himself  above  his  fellows  by  the  accumulation 
of  a  fortune;  to  this  one  great  desideratum  all  his  energies  are 
directed,  all  his  thoughts  are  bent,  and  by  it  all  his  ideas  are  en 
grossed.  When  I  first  arrived  in  America,  as  I  walked  down 
Broadway,  it  appeared  strange  to  me  that  there  should  be  such  a 
remarkable  family  likeness  among  the  people.  Every  man  I 
met  seemed  to  me  by  his  features  to  be  a  brother  or  a  connec- 
tion of  the  last  man  who  had  passed  me;  I  could  not  at  first 
comprehend  this,  but  the  mystery  was  soon  revealed.  It  was 
that  they  were  all  intent  and  engrossed  with  the  same  object ; 
all  were,  as  they  passed,  calculating  and  reflecting;  this  pro- 
duced a  similar  contraction  of  the  brow,  knitting  of  the  eye- 
brows, and  compression  of  th3  lips — a  similarity  of  feeling  had 


'  (■! 


!         1 


-i   ■  I    I    '    ! 


m 


M- 


104 


marryat's  diary. 


fir 


!:^ 


produced  a  similarity  of  expression,  from  the  same  muscles  be- 
ing called  into  action.  Even  their  hurried  walk  assisted  the 
error:  it  is  a  saying  in  ihe  United  States,  "  that  a  New  York 
merchant  always  walks  as  if  he  had  a  good  dinner  before  him, 
and  a  bailiff  behind  him,"  and  the  metaphor  is  not  inapt. 

Now,  a  man  so  wholly  engrossed  in  business  cannot  be  a 
very  good  companion  if  he  were  at  home  ;  his  thoughts  would 
be  elsewhere,  and  therefore  perhaps  it  is  better  that  things  should 
remain  as  they  are.  But  the  great  evil  arising  from  this  is,  that 
the  children  are  left  wholly  to  the  management  of  their  mothers, 
and  the  want  of  paternal  control  I  have  already  commcitted 
upon.  The  Americans  have  reason  to  be  proud  of  their  women, 
for  they  are  really  good  wives — much  toogood  for  them ;  I  have 
no  hesitation  in  asserting  this,  and  should  there  be  any  unfortu- 
nate difference  between  any  married  couple  in  America,  all  the 
lady  has  to  say  is,  "The  fact  is.  Sir,  I'm  much  too  good  for  you, 
and  Captain  Marryat  says  so."  (I  flatter  myself  there's  a  little 
mischief  in  that  last  sentence.) 

It  appears,  then,  that  the  American  woman  has  little  of  her 
husband's  society,  and  that  in  education  and  refinement  she  is 
much  his  superior,  notwithstanding  which  she  is  a  domestic 
slave.  For  this  the  Americans  are  not  to  blame,  as  it  is  the 
effect  of  circumstances,  over  which  they  cannot  be  said  to  have 
any  control.  But  the  Americans  are  to  blame  in  one  point,  which 
is,  that  they  do  not  properly  appreciate  or  value  their  wives, 
who  have  not  half  the  iniluence  which  wives  have  in  England, 
or  one  quarter  that  legitimate  influence  to  which  they  are  entitled. 
That  they  are  proud  of  them,  flatter  them,  and  are  kind  to  them 
after  their  own  fashion,  I  grant,  but  female  influence  extends  no 
farther.  Some  authors  have  said,  that  by  the  morals  of  the  wo- 
men you  can  judge  of  the  morals  of  a  country  ;  generally  speak- 
ing, this  is  true,  but  America  is  an  exception,  for  the  women 
are  more  moral,  more  educated,  and  more  refined  than  the  men, 
and  yet  have  at  present  no  influence  whatever  in  society. 

What  is  the  cause  of  this  ]  It  can  only  be  ascribed  to  the  one 
great  ruling  passion  which  is  so  strong  that  it  will  admit  of  no 
check,  or  obstacles  being  thrown  in  its  way,  and  will  listen  to  no 
argument  or  entreaty  ;  and  because,  in  a  country  when  every- 
thing is  decided  by  public  opinion,  the  women  are  as  great  slaves 
to  it  as  the  men.  Their  position  at  present  appears  to  be  that 
the  men  will  not  raise  themselves  to  the  standard  of  the  women, 
and  the  women  will  not  lower  themselves  to  the  standard  of  the 
men ;  they  apparently  move  in  difierent  spheres,  although  they 
repo.se  on  the  same  bed. 

It  is,  therefore,  as  I  have  before  observed,  fortunate  that  the 
marriages  in  America  are  more  decided  by  prudence  than  by 
affection;  for  nothing  could  be  more  mortifying  to  a  woman  of 
sense  and  feeling,  than  to  awake  from  her  dream  of  love,  and  dis- 
cover that  the  object  upon  which  she  has  bestowed  her  affection, 
is  indifferent  to  the  sacrifice  which  she  hns  made. 

If  the  American  women  had  their  due  influence,  it  would  be 
fortunate ;  they  might  save  their  country,  by  checking  the  tide 


MARRTAT  S   DIARY. 


105 


:!.  t  i!  " 


i;  i 


of  vice  and  immorality,  and  raising  the  men  to  their  own  standard* 
Whether  they  ever  will  effect  this,  or  whether  they  will  con- 
tinue as  at  present,  to  keep  up  the  line  of  demarcation,  or  gra- 
dually sink  down  to  the  level  of  the  other  sex,  is  a  question  which 
remains  to  be  solved. 

That  the  American  women  have  their  peculiarities,  and  in 
some  respects  they  might  be  improved,  is  certain.  Their  priiici- 
pal  fault  in  society  is,  that  they  do  not  sufficiently  modulate, 
their  voices.  Those,  faults  arising  from  association,  and  to 
which  both  sexes  are  equally  prone,  are  a  total  indifference  to 
or  rather  a  love  of  change,  "  shiftingr  ritjht  away,"  without  the 
least  regret,  from  one  portion  of  the  Union  to  another;  a  remark- 
able apathy  as  to  the  sufferings  of  others,  an  indifference  to  loss 
of  life,  a  fondness  for  politics,  all  of  which  are  tinfeminine;  and 
lastly,  a  passion  for  dress  carried  to  too  great  an  extent;  butthis 
latter  is  easily  accounted  for,  and  is  inseparable  from  a  society 
where  all  would  be  equal.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  the  American 
women  have  a  virtue  which  the  tnen  have  not,  which  is  moral 
courage,  and  one  also  which  is  not  common  with  the  sex,  physi- 
cal courage.  The  independence  and  spirit  of  an  American 
woman,  if  left  a  widow  without  resources,  is  immediately  shown; 
she  does  not  sit  and  lament,  but  applies  herself  to  some  employ- 
ment, so  that  she  may  maintain  herself  and  her  children,  and 
seldom  fails  in  so  doing.  Here  are  faults  and  virtues,  both 
proceeding  from  the  same  origin. 

I  have  already  in  my  Diary  referred  to  another  great  error  in 
a  portion  of  the  American  women.  Lady  Blessington,  in  one  of 
her  delightful  works,  very  truly  observes,  "I  turn  with  disgust 
from  that  affected  prudery,  arising,  if  not  from  a  participation,  at 
least  from  a  knowledge  of  evil,  which  induces  certain  ladies  to 
cast  down  their  eyes,  look  grave,  and  show  the  extent  of  their 
knowledge,  or  the  pruriency  of  their  imaginations,  by  discover- 
ing in  a  harmless  jest  notliing  to  alarm  their  experienced  feel- 
ings, I  resnect  that  woman  whose  innate  purity  prevents  those 
around  her  from  uttering  aught  that  can  arouse  it,  much  more 
than  her  whose  sensitive  prudery  continually  reminds  one,  that 
she  is  au  fait  of  every  possible  interpretation  which  a  word  of 
doubtful  meaning  admits." 

The  remarks  of  Miss  Martineau  upon  the  women  of  America 
are  all  very  ungracious,  and  some  of  them  very  unjust.  That 
she  met  with  affectation  and  folly  in  America,  is  very  pro- 
bable—where  do  you  not?  There  is  no  occasion  to  go  to  the 
United  States  to  witness  it.  As  for  the  charge  of  carrying  in 
their  hands  seventy-dollar  pocket-handkerchiefs,  I  am  afraid  it  is 
but  too  true ;  but  when  there  is  little  distinction,  except  by  dress, 
ladies  will  be  very  expensive.  I  do  not  know  why,  but  the 
American  ladies  have  a  custom  of  carrying  their  pocket-hand- 
kerchiefs in  their  hands,  either  in  a  rootn,  or  walking  out,  or 
travelling;  and  moreover,  they  have  a  custom  of  marking  their 
names  in  the  corner,  at  full  length,  and  when  in  a  steamboat 
or  rail-car,  I  have,  by  a  little  watching,  obtained  the  names  of 


\ 


V, 


It. 


I  Of) 


mauryat's  diary. 


Mm  A 


w 

v. 


m 

li: 


n 


■     S 


I 


ladies  sitting  near  me,  in  consequence  of  this  custom,  which  of 
course  will  be  ascribed  by  Miss  Martineau  to  a  wish  to  give  infor- 
mation to  strangers. 

The  remark  np(ui  tlie  Washington  belles,*  I  am  afraid  is  too 
true,  as  I  have  already  pointed  out  that  the  indifference  to  human 
life  in  America  extends  to  the  softer  sex;  and  1  perfectly  well 
remember,  upon  my  coming  into  a  room  at  New  York  with  the 
first  intelligence  of  the  wreck  of  the  '  Home,'  and  the  dreadful 
loss  of  life  attending  it,  that  my  news  was  received  with  "'adear 
rae !"  from  two  or  three  of  the  ladies,  and  there  the  matter 
dropped.  There  is,  however,  much  truth  in  what  Miss  Martineau 
says,  relative  to  the  manner  in  which  the  women  are  treated  by 
their  lords  and  masters,  in  this  new  country.  The  following 
quotation  from  the  work  is  highly  deserving  of  attention: — 

"  If  a  test  of  civilization  be  sought,  none  can  be  so  snre  as 
the  condition  of  that  half  of  society  over  which  the  other  half 
has  power, — from  the  exercise  of  the  right  of  the  strongest. 
Tried  by  this  test,  the  American  civilization  appears  to  be  of  a 
lower  order  than  might  have  been  expected  from  some  other 
symptoms  of  its  social  state.  The  Americans  have,  in  the 
treatment  of  women,  fallen  below,  not  only  their  own  demo- 
cratic principles,  but  the  practice  of  some  parts  of  the  Old 
World. 

"  The  unconsciousness  of  both  parties  as  ta  the  injuries  suffered 
by  women  at  the  hands  of  those  who  hold  the  power,  is  a  suffi- 
cient proof  of  the  low  degree  of  civilization  in  this  important  par- 
ticular at  which  they  rest  While  woman's  intellect  is  confined, 
her  morals  crushed,  her  health  ruined,  her  weakness  encouraged, 
and  her  strength  punished,  she  is  told  that  her  lot  is  cast  in  the 
paradise  of  women:  and  there  is  no  country  in  the  world  where 
there  is  so  much  boasting  of  the  'chivalrous'  treatment  she  en- 
joys. That  is  to  say, — she  has  the  best  place  in  stage-coaches : 
when  there  are  not  chairs  enough  for  every  body,  the  gentle- 
men stand :  she  hears  oratorical  flourishes  on  public  occasions 
about  wives  and  home,  and  apostrophes  to  woman :  her  husband's 
hair  stands  on  end  at  the  idea  of  her  working,  and  he  toils  to  in- 
dulge her  with  money  :  she  has  liberty  to  get  her  brain  turned 
by  religious  excitements,  that  her  attention  may  be  diverted 
from  morals,  politics,  and  philosophy ;  and,  especially,  her  morals 
are  guarded  by  the  strictest  observance  of  propriety  in  her  pre- 
sence. Jn  short,  indulgence  is  given  her  as  a  substitute  for 
justice." 

If  Mis^  Martineau  had  stopped  here,  she  had  done  well ;  but 
she  follows  this  up  by  claiming  for  her  sex  all  the  privileges  of 
our  own,  and  seems  to  be  highly  indignant,  that"  they  are  not 

♦  "  A  Washington  belle  related  to  me  the  sad  story  of  the  death  of 
a  young  man  who  fell  from  a  small  boat  into  the  Potomac  in  the 
night, — it  is  supposed  in  his  sleep.  She  told  me  where  and  how  his 
body  was  found  ;  and  what  relation  she  had  left ;  and  finished  with  <*  he 
will  be  much  missed  at  parties." 


marryat's  diart. 


107 


permitted  to  take  their  due  share  of  the  government  of  the  coun- 
try, and  hold  the  most  important  situations.  To  follow  up  her 
ideas,  we  should  have  a  "teeming"  prime  minister,  and  the 
Ijord  Chancellor  obliged  to  leave  the  wool-sack  to  nurse  his 
baby;  Miss  M.  forgets  that  her  prayer  has  been  half  granted 
already,  for  we  never  yet  had  a  ministry  without  a  certain  pro- 
portion of  old  women  in  it;  and  we  can,  therefore,  dispense  with 
her  services. 

There  is,  however,  one  remark  of  Miss  Martineau's  which  I 
cannot  pass  over  without  expressing  indignation  ;  I  will  quote 
the  passage. 

f  "  It  is  no  secret  on  the  spot,  that  the  habit  of  intempera^jjce 

is  not  unfrequent  among  women  of  station  and  education  in  the 
most  enlightened  parts  of  the  country.  I  witnessed  some  in- 
stances, and  heard  of  more.  It  does  not  seem  to  me  to  be  re- 
garded with  all  the  dismay  which  such  a  symptom  ought  to  ex- 
rite.  To  the  stranger,  a  novelty  so  horrible,  a  spectacle  so 
fearful,  suggests  wide  and  deep  subjects  of  investigation.  If 
women,  in  a  region  professing  religion  more  strenuously  than 
any  other,  living  in  the  deepest  external  peace,  surrounded  by 
prosperity,  and  outwardly  honoured  more  conspicuously  than  in 
any  other  country,  can  ever  so  far  cast  off  self-restraint, 
shame,  domestic  affection,  and  the  deep  prejudices  of  education, 
as  to  plunge  into  the  living  hell  of  intemperance  there  must  be 
something  fearfully  wrong  in  their  position." 

Miss  Martineau  is  a  lady ;  and,  therefore,  it  is  difTicult  to  use 
the  language  which  I  would,  if  a  man  had  made  such  an  asser- 
tion. 1  shall  only  state,  that  it  is  one  of  the  greatest  libels 
that  ever  was  put  into  print:  for  Miss  Martineau  implies  that 
it  is  general  habit,  among  the  American  women  j  so  far  from  it, 
the  American  women  are  so  abstemious  that  they  do  not  drink 
sufficient  for  their  health.  They  can  take  very  little  exercise, 
and  did  they  take  a  Httle  more  wine,  they  would  not  suffer  from 
dyspepsia^  as  they  now  do,  as  wine  would  assist  their  digestion. 
The  origin  of  this  slander  I  know  well,  and  the  only  ground  for 
it  is,  that  there  are  twoor  three  ladies  of  a  certain  city,  who  having 
been  worked  upon  by  some  of  the  Evangelical  Revival  Ministers, 
have  had  their  rninds  crushed  by  the  continual  excitement  lo 
which  they  have  been  subjected.  The  mind  affects  the  body, 
and  they  have  required,  and  have  applied  to,  stimulus,  and  if 
you  will  inquire  into  the  moral  state  of  any  woman  among  the 
higher  classes,  either  in  America  or  England,  who  has  fallen 
into  the  vice  alluded  to,  nine  times  out  often  you  will  find  that 
it  has  been  brought  about  by  religious  excitement.  Fanaticism 
and  gin  are  remarkable  good  friends  all  over  the  world.  It  ie 
surprising  to  me  that,  when  Miss  Martineau  claims  for  her  sex 
,  the  same  privilege  as  ours,  she  should  have  overlooked  one  sim- 
ple fact  which  ought  to  convince  her  that  they  are  the  weaker 
vessels.  I  refer  to  what  she  acknowledges  to  be  true,  which  is, 
that  the  evangelical  preachers  invariably  apply  to  women  for 
proselytes,  instead  of  men ;  not  only  in  America  but  everywhere 
else ;  and  that  for  one  male,  they  may  reckon  at  least  twenty 
females  among  their  flocks.     According  to  Miss  Martineau's 


fi 


!:;l 


m^ 


H 


lOS 


marryat's  diart. 


■}.    '^. 


!<.' 


if- 


i)  • 


\f\ 


I 


published  opinions,  there  can  be  no  greater  weakness  than  the 
above. 

In  the  United  States,  divorces  are  obtained  without  expense, 
and  without  it  being  necessary  to  commit  crime,  as  in  England. 
The  party  pleads  in  forma  pauperis,  to  the  State  Legislation, 
and  a  divorce  is  granted  upon  any  grounds  which  may  be  con- 
sidered as  just  and  reasonable. 

Miss  Martineau  mentions  a  divorce  having  been  granted  to  a 
wife,  upon  the  plea  of  her  husband  being  a  gambler;  and  I  was 
myself  told  of  an  instance  in  which  a  divorce  was  granted  upon 
the  plea  of  the  husband  being  such  an  "  awful  swearer ;"  and 
really,  if  any  one  heard  the  swearing  in  some  parts  of  the  West- 
ern country,  he  would  not  be  surprised  at  a  religious  woman 
requesting  to  be  separated.  I  was  once  on  board  of  a  steam- 
boat on  the  Mississippi,  when  a  man  let  off  such  a  volley  of 
execrations,  that  it  was  quite  painful  to  hear  him.  An  Ameri- 
can who  stood  by  mc,  as  soon  as  the  man  had  finished,  observed, 
"  Well,  I'm  glad  that  fit^llow  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  engines: 
[  reckon  he'd  burst  the  biler.''^ 

Miss  Martineau  observes,  "  In  no  country  I  believe  are  the 
marriage  laws  so  iniquitous  as  in  England,  and  the  conjugal  re- 
lation, in  consequence,  so  impaired.     Whatever  may  be  thought 
of  the  principles  which  are  to  enter  into  laws  of  divorce,  whether 
it  be  held  that  pleas  for  divorce  should  be  one,  (as  narrow  inter- 
preters of  the  New  Testament  would  have  it;)  or  two,  (as  the  law 
of  England  has  it;)  or  several,  (as  the  Continental  and  U.  Stales' 
laws  in  many  instances  allow,)  nobody  defends  the  arrange- 
ment by  which,  in  England,  divorce  is  obtainable  only  by  the  very 
rich.     The  barbarism  of  trranting  that  as  a  privilege  to  the  ex- 
tremely wealthy,  to  which  money  bears  no  relation  whatever, 
and  in  which  uU  married  persons  whatever  have  an  equal  in- 
terest, needs  no  exposure  beyond  the  mere  statement  of  the  fact. 
It  will  be  seen  at  a  glance  how  such  an  arrangement  tends  to 
vitiate  marriage  :  how  it  offers  impunity  to  adventurers,  and  en- 
couragement to  every  kind  of  mercenary  marriages;  how  abso- 
lute is  its  oppression  of  the  injured  party,  and  how,  by  vitiating 
marriage,  it  originates  and  aggravates  licentiousness  to  an  incal- 
culable extent.     To  England  alone  belongs  the  disgrace  of  such 
a  method  of  legislation.     I  believe  that,  while  there  is  little  to 
be  said  for  the  legislation  of  any  part  of  the  world  on  this  head, 
it  is  no  where  so  vicious  as  in  England." 

I  am  afraid  that  these  remarks  are  but  too  true;  and  it  is  the 
more  singular,  as  not  only  in  the  United  States,  but  in  every 
other  Protestant  community  that  I  have  ever  heard  of," divorce 
can  be  obtained  upon  what  are  considered  just  and  legitimate 
grounds.  It  has  been  supposed,  that  should  "the  marriage  tie  be 
loosened,  that  divorces  without  number  would  take  place. 

It  was  considered  so,  and  so  argued,  at  the  time  that  Zurich 
(the  only  Protestant  canton  in  Switzerland  that  did  not 
permit  divorce,  except  for  adultery  alone,)  passed  laWs 
similar  to  those  of  the  other  cantons;  but  oo  far  from 
such  being  the  case,  only  one  divorce  took  place,  with- 
in   a    year    afler    the    laws    were     amended.       What    is 


MARRYAT's  DIARr. 


109 


Ihe  reason  of  thisi  It  can,  in  my  opinion,  only  be  ascribed  to 
the  chain  being  worn  more  lightly,  when  you  know  that  if  it 
oppresses  you,  it  may  be  removed.  Men  are  naturally  tyrants, 
and  they  bear  down  upon  the  woman  who  cannot  escape  from 
their  thraldom;  but,  with  the  knowledge  that  she  can  appeal 
against  them,  they  soften  their  rigor.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
woman,  when  unable  to  escape,  frets  with  the  feeling  that  she 
must  submit,  and  that  there  is  no  help  or  hope  in  prospect;  but 
once  aware  that  she  has  her  rights,  and  an  appeal,  she  bears  with 
more,  and  feels  less  than  otherwise  she  would.  You  may  bind, 
and  from  assiietude  and  time,  (putting  the  better  feelings  out  of 
the  question,)  the  lies  are  worn  without  complaint,  but  if  you 
bind  too  tight,  you  cut  into  the  flesh,  and  after  a  time  the  pain 
becomes  insupportable.  In  Switzerland,  Germany,  and,  I  be- 
lieve, all  the  protestant  communities  of  the  old  world,  the 
grounds  upon  which  divorce  is  admissible  are  as  follows: — 
adultery,  condemnation  of  either  party  to  punishment  considered 
as  infamous,  madness,  contagious  chronic  diseases,  desertion 
and  incompatibility  of  temper. 

The  last  will  be  considered  by  most  people  as  no  ground  for 
divorce.  Whether  it  is  or  not,  I  shall  not  pretend  to  decide, 
but  this  is  certain,  that  it  is  the  cause  of  the  most  unhappiness, 
and,  ultimately,  of  the  most  crime. 

All  the  great  errors,  all  the  various  schisms  in  the  Christian 
church,  have  arisen  from  not  taking  the  holy  writings  as  a  great 
moral  code,  (as  I  should  imagine  they  were  intended  to  be,) 
which  legislates  upon  broad  principles,  but  selecting  particular 
passages  from  them  upon  which  to  pin  your  faith.  And  it  cer- 
tainly appears  to  me  to  be  reasonable  to  suppose  that  those  laws 
by  which  the  imperfection  of  our  natures  were  fairly  met,  and 
which  tended  to  dimirnsh  the  aggregate  of  crime,  must  be  more 
acceptable  to  our  Divine  Master  than  any  which,  however  they 
might  be  in  spirit  more  rigidly  conformable  to  his  precepts, 
were  found  in  their  working  not  to  succeed.  And  here  I  cannot 
help  observing,  that  the  heads  of  the  church  of  England  appear 
not  to  have  duly  weighed  this  matter,  when  an  attempt  was  lately 
made  to  legislate  upon  it.  Do  the  English  bishops  mean  to 
assert  that  they  know  better  than  the  heads  of  all  the  other  pro- 
testant communities  in  the  world — that  they  are  more  accurate 
expounders  of  the  gospel,  and  have  a  more  intimate  knowledge 
of  God's  will?  Did  it  never  occur  to  them,  that  when  so  many 
good  and  virtuous  ecclesiastics  of  the  same  persuasion  in  other 
countries  have  decided  upon  the  propriety  of  divorce,  so  as  to 
leave  them  in  a  very  small  minority,  that  it  might  be  possible 
that  they  might  be  wrong,  or  do  they  intend  to  set  up  and  claim 
the  infallibility  of  the  papistical  hierarchy? 

Any  legislation  to  prevent  crime,  which  produces  more  crime, 
must  be  bad  and  unsound,  whatever  may  be  its  basis:  witness 
the  bastardy  clause  in  the  New  Poor  Law  Bill.  That  the 
former  arrangements  were  defective  is  undeniable,  for  by  them 
there  was  a  premium  for  illegitimate  children.  This  required 
10 


1-  1 


it' 


;:p 


1:11' 


If'i 


l^r 


A' 


.!■       I 


itjiii 


( 

("m 


J,:.  \ 

a 


f  - 

■        ' 

^1.  r 


110 


MARRTAT^S  DIART. 


amendment:  but  the  remedy  has  proved  infinitely  worse  than 
the  disease.  For  what  has  been  the  result]  That  there  have 
been  many  thousands  fewer  ille^r'nimate  children  Wn,  it  is  true; 
but  has  the  progress  of  immorality  been  checked?  On  the 
contrary,  crime  has  increased,  for  to  the  former  crime  has  been 
added  one  much  greater,  that  of  infanticide,  or  producing  abor- 
tion. Such  has  been  the  effect  of  attempting  to  legislate  for  the 
affections;  for  in  most  cases  a  woman  falls  a  sacrifice  to  her  bet- 
ter feelings,  not  to  her  appetite. 

In  every  point  connected  with  marriage,  has  this  injurious 
plan  been  persevered  in;  the  marriage  ceremony  is  a  remarkable 
instance  of  this,  for,  beautiful  as  it  is  as  a  service,  it  is  certainly 
liable  to  this  objection,  that  of  making"  people  vow  before  God 
that  which  it  is  not  in  human  nature  to  control.  The  woman 
vows  to  love,  and  to  honor,  and  to  cherish;  the  man  to  love  and 
(jherish  until  death  doth  them  part. 

Is  it  right  that  this  vow  should  be  madeT  A  man  deserts  his 
wife  for  another,  treats  her  cruelly,  separates  her  from  her  chil- 
dren, (^an  a  woman  love,  or  honor,  or  cherish  such  a  mani — 
nevertheless,  she  has  vowed  before  God  that  she  will.  Take 
the  reverse  of  the  picture  when  the  fault  is  on  the  woman's  side, 
and  the  evil  is  the  same;  can  either  party  control  their  affec- 
tions? surely  not,  and  therefore  it  would  be  better  that  such 
yows  should  not  be  demanded. 

There  is  another  evil  arising  from  one  crime  being  the  only 
allowable  cause  of  divorce,  whi»h  is  that  the  possession  of  one 
negative  virtue  on  the  part  of  the  woman,  is  occasionally  made 
an  excuse  for  the  practice  of  vice,  and  a  total  disregard  of  her 
duties  as  a  wife.  I  say  negative  virtue,  for  chastity  very  often 
proceeds  from  temperament,  and  as  often  from  not  being  tempted, 

A  woman  may  neglect  her  duties  of  every  kind — but  she  is 
chaste;  she  may  make  her  husband  miserable  by  indulgence  of 
her  ill-temper — but  she  is  chaste;  she  may  squander  his  money, 
ruin  him  by  expense— but  she  is  chaste;  she  may,  in  short,  drive 
him  to  drunkenness  and  suicide— but  still  she  is  chaste;  and 
chastity,  like  charity,  covers  the  whole  multitude  of  sins,  and  is 
the  scape-goat  for  every  other  crime,  and  violation  of  the  mar- 
riage vow. 

It  must,  however,  be  admitted,  that  although  the  faults  may 
occasionally  be  found  on  the  side  of  the  women,  in  nine  times 
out  often  it  is  the  reverse;  and  that  the  defects  of  our  marriage 
laws  have  rendered  English  women  liable  to  treatment  which 
ought  not  to  be  shown  towards  the  veriest  slaves  in  existence. 

I  must  now  enter  into  a  question,  which  I  should  have  had 
more  pleasure  in  passing  over  lightly,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
constant  attacks  of  the  Americans  upon  this  subject,  during  the 
time  that  I  was  in  the  country,  and  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Carey  in 
his  work,  in  which  he  claims  for  the  Americans  pre-eminence 
in  this  point,  as  well  as  upon  all  others. 

Miss  Martineau  says,  "The  ultimate  and  very  strong  impres- 
Mon  on  the  mind  of  a  stranger,  pondering  on  the  morals  of  so- 


MARRTAT^S  DIARY. 


Ill 


[I     * 


cirty  in  America,  is  that  human  nature  is  much  the  same  every 
where  "  Surely  Miss  Martiiieau  need  not  have  crossed  the  At- 
lantic to  make  this  discovery;  however  I  quote  it,  as  it  will 
serve  as  a  text  to  what  is  to  follow. 

The  Americans  claim  excessive  purity  for  their  women,  and 
taunt  us  with  the  exposees  occasionally  made  in  our  newspapers. 
In  the  first  place — which  shows  the  highest  regard  for  morality, 
a  country  where  any  deviation  from  virtue  is  immediately  made 
known,  and  held  up  to  public  indignation?  or  one  which,  from 
national  vanity,  and  a  wish  that  all  should  appear  to  be  correct, 
instead  of  publishing,  conceals  the  facts,  and  permits  the  guilty 
parties  to  escape  without  censure,  for  what  they  consider  the 
honor  of  the  nation? 

To  suppose  there  is  no  conjugal  infidelity  in  the  United  States 
is  to  suppose  that  human  nature  is  not  the  same  every  where. 
That  it  never,  to  my  knowledge,  was  made  public,  but  invaria- 
bly hushed  up  when  discovered,  I  believe;  so  is  suicide.  But 
one  instance  came  to  my  knowledge,  during  the  time  that  I  was 
in  the  States,  which  will  give  a  very  fair  idea  of  American  feel- 
ing on  this  subject.  It  was  supposed  that  an  intrigue  had  been 
discovered,  or,  it  had  actually  been  discovered,  I  cannot  say 
which,  between  a  foreigner  and  the  wife  of  an  English  gentle- 
man. It  was  immediately  seized  upon  with  ecstacy,  circulated 
in  all  the  papers  with  every  American  embellishment,  and  was 
really  the  subject  of  congratulation  among  them,  as  if  they  had 
gained  some  victory  over  this  country.  It  so  happened  that  an 
American  called  upon  the  lady,  and  among  other  questions  put 
to  her,  inquired  in  what  part  of  England  she  was  born?  She 
replied,  "that  she  was  not  an  English-woman,  but  was  born  in 
the  States,  and  brought  up  in  an  American  city." 

It  is  impossible  to  imagine  how  this  mere  trifling  fact  affected 
the  Americans.  She  was  then  an  American — they  were  aghast 
—and  I  am  convinced  that  they  would  have  made  any  sacrifice, 
to  have  been  able  to  have  recalled  all  that  they  had  done,  and 
have  hushed  up  the  matter. 

The  fact  is,  that  human  nature  is  the  same  every  where,  and  I 
cannot  help  observing,  that  if  their  community  is  so  much  more 
moral,  as  they  pretend  that  it  is,  why  is  it  that  they  have  consi- 
dered it  necessary  to  form  societies  on  such  an  extensive  scale, 
for  the  prevention  of  a  crime  from  which  they  declare  themselves 
(comparatively  with  us  and  other  nations)  to  be  exempt?  I  once 
had  an  argument  on  this  subject  with  an  elderly  American  gen- 
tleman, and  as  I  took  down  the  minutes  of  it  after  we  parted,  I 
think  it  will  be  as  well  to  give  it  to  my  readers,  as  it  will  show 
the  American  feeling  upon  it. 

'*  Why,  Captain  M.,  you  must  bear  in  mind  that  we  are  not 
so  vicious  and  contaminated  here,  as  you  are  in  the  old  country. 
You  don't  see  our  newspapers  filled,  as  yours  are,  with  crim. 
cons,  in  high  life.  No,  sir,  our  institutions  are  favourable  to 
virtue  and  morality,  and  our  women  are  as  virtuous  as  our  men 
arc  brave." 


-  :n 


'.  li'i 


I    -  1. 


113 


MARRY AT'S  DIART. 


I    ! 


"I  have  no  reason  to  deny  either  one  assertion  or  the  other^ 
as  far  as  I  am  acquainted  with  your  men  and  women;  but  still 
I  do  not  judge  from  the  surface,  as  many  have  done  who  have 
visited  you.  Because  there  are  no  crim.  cons,  in  your  papers, 
it  does  not  prove  that  conjugal  infidelity  does  not  exist.  There 
are  no  suicides  of  people  of  any  station  in  society  ever  published 
in  your  newspapers,  and  yet  there  is  no  country  where  suicide  is 
more  common." 

"  1  grant  that,  occasionally,  the  coroner  does  bring  in  a  verdict 
80  as  to  save  the  feelings  of  the  family." 

"  That  is  more  than  a  coroner  would  venture  to  do  in  England, 
let  the  rank  of  the  party  be  of  the  highest.  But  if  you  hush  up 
suicides,  may  you  not  also  hush  up  other  oftences,  to  save  the 
feelings  of  families'?  I  have  already  made  up  my  mind  upon 
one  point,  which  is,  that  you  are  content  to  substitute  the  appear- 
ance for  the  reality  in  your  moral  code — the  fact  is,  you  fear  one 
another — you  fear  society,  but  you  do  not  fear  God." 

"  I  should  imagine,  captain,  that  when  you  have  conversed, 
and  mixed  up  with  us  a  little  more,  you  will  be  inclined  to  re- 
tract, and  acknowledge  what  I  have  said  to  be  correct.  I  have 
lived  all  my  life  in  the  States,  and  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying 
that  we  are  a  very  moral  people.  Recollect  that  you  have  prin- 
cipally confined  yourself  to  our  cities,  during  your  stay  with  us; 
yet  even  there  we  may  proudly  challenge  comparison." 

"  My  opinion  is,  that  unless  you  can  show  just  cause  why  you 
should  be  more  moral  than  other  nations,  you  are,  whether  in 
cities  or  in  the  country,  much  the  same  as  we  are.  I  do  not 
require  to  examine  on  this  point,  as  I  consider  it  to  be  a  rule-of- 
three  calculation.  Give  me  the  extent  of  the  population,  and  I 
can  estimate  the  degree  of  purity.  Mankind  demoralize  each 
other  by  collision;  and  the  larger  the  numbers  crowded  together, 
the  greater  will  be  the  demoralization,  and  this  rule  will  hold 
good,  whether  in  England  or  the  United  States,  the  Old  World 
or  the  New." 

"  That  argument  would  hold  good  if  it  were  not  for  our  insti- 
tutions, which  are  favourable  to  morality  and  virtue." 

"  I  consider  them  quite  the  contrary.  Your  institutions  are 
beautiful  in  theory,  but  in  practice  do  not  work  well.  I  suspect 
that  your  society  has  a  very  similar  defect." 

"Am  I  then  to  understand,  captain,  that  you  consider  the 
American  ladies  as  not  virtuous]" 

"  I  have  already  said  that  I  have  had  no  proofs  to  the  contra- 
ry; all  I  wish  is  to  defend  my  own  country,  and  I  say  that  I 
consider  the  English  women  at  all  events  quite  as  moral  as  the 
Americans." 

"  I  reckon  that's  no  compliment,  captain.  Now,  then,  do 
you  mean  to  say  that  you  think  there  is  as  much  conjugal  infi- 
delity in  New  York,  in  proportion  to  the  population,  as  there  is 
in  London]  Now,  captain,  if  you  please,  we  will  stick  to  that 
point." 


MARRY AT's  DIART. 


113 


"  I  answer  you  at  once.    No,  I  do  not  believe  that  there  is; 

but " 

"  That's  all  I  want,  captain — never  mind  the  6m/s." 
*^  Hut  you  must  have  the  buls.     Itecollect,  I  did  not  say  that 
your  society  was  more  moral,  although  1  said  that  there  was  in 
my  opinion  less  infidelity." 
"  vVell,  how  can  that  bel" 

"  Because,  in  the  (irst  place,  conjugal  infidelity  is  not  the  only 
crime  which  exists  in  society;  and,  secondly,  because  there  are 
causes  which  prevent  its  being  common.  That  this  vice  should 
be  common,  two  things  are  requisite — time  and  opportunity; 
neither  of  which  is  to  be  found  in  a  society  like  yours.  You  have 
no  men  of  leisure,  every  man  is  occupied  the  whole  day  with  his 
business.  Now,  suppose  one  man  was  to  stay  away  from  his 
business  for  merely  one  day,  would  he  not  be  missed,  and  inqui- 
ries made  after  him;  and  if  it  were  proved  that  he  stayed  away 
to  pass  his  time  with  his  neighbour  s  wife,  would  not  the  scan- 
dal be  circulated  all  over  the  city  before  nightl  I  recollect  a 
very  plain  woinau  accusing  a  very  pretty  one  of  indiscretion;  the 
reply  of  the  latter,  when  the  former  vaunted  her  own  purity,  was, 
'  Were  you  ever  asked]'  Thus  it  is  in  America;  there  is  neither 
time  nor  opportunity,  and  your  women  are  in  consequence  sel- 
dom or  never  tempted.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  if  they  were 
tempted  they  would  fall;  all  I  say  is,  that  no  parallel  can  in  this 
instance  be  drawn  between  the  women  of  the  two  countries,  as 
their  situations  are  so  very  different.  I  am  ready  to  do  every 
justice  to  your  women;  but  I  will  not  suffer  you  to  remain  in  the 
error,  that  you  are  more  moral  than  -..'e  are." 

"  Why,  you  have  admitted  that  we  are  from  circumstances,  if 
not  from  principle." 

*'  In  one  point  only,  and  in  that  you  appear  to  be,  and  I  have 
given  you  a  reason  why  you  really  should  be  so;  but  we  can 
draw  no  inference  of  any  value  from  what  we  know  relative  to 
your  better  classes  of  society.  If  we  would  examine  and  calcu- 
late the  standard  of  morality  in  a  country,  we  must  look  else- 
where?" 
"  Where?" 

"  To  the  lower  class  of  society,  and  not  to  the  highest.  I  pre- 
sume you  are  aware  that  ther^  is  a  greater  proportion  of  unfortu- 
nate females  in  New  York,  taking  the  extent  of  the  populations, 
than  in  London  or  Paris?  I  have  it  from  American  authority, 
and  I  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  it  is  true." 

"  I  am  surprised  that  any  American  should  have  made  such 
an  admission,  captain;  but  for  the  sake  of  argument  let  it  be  so. 
But  first  recollect  that  we  have  a  constant  influx  of  people  from 
the  Old  Country,  from  all  the  other  States  in  America,  and  that 
we  are  a  seaport  town,  with  our  wharves  crowded  with  ship- 
ping," 

"  I  admit  it  all,  and  that  is  the  reason  why  you  have  so  many. 
The  supply  in  all  countries  is  usually  commensurate  with  the 

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114 


MARRYAT'S  DIARY. 


demand;  but  the  numbers  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  argu- 
ment." 

"Then  T  cannot  si^e  what  you  aro  driving  at;  for  allow  me  to 
say  that,  admitting  the  clasH  to  ho  as  numerous  as  you  state 
from  American  authority,  still  tht'y  are  vvry  ordi-rly  and  well 
behaved.  You  nevor  see  them  drunk  in  the  streets;  you  never 
hear  swearing  or  abusive  languagr;  and  you  do  in  London  and 
your  sea-ports.  There  is  a  decorum  and  sense  of  propriety  about 
them  which,  you  must  admit,  speaks  well,  even  for  those  unfor- 
tunate persons,  and  shows  some  sense  of  morality  and  decency 
even  in  our  most  abandoned." 

"  You  have  brought  forward  the  very  facts  which  I  was  about 
to  state,  and  it  is  from  these  facts  that  I  draw  quite  contrary  con- 
clusions. If  your  argument  is  good,  it  must  follow  that  the 
women  of  Paris  are  much  more  virtuous  than  the  women  of 
London.  Now,  I  consider  that  these  facts  prove  that  the  stand- 
ard of  morality  is  lower  in  America  and  France  than  it  is  in 
England.  A  French  woman  who  has  fallen  never  drinks,  or 
uses  bad  language;  she  follows  her  profession,  and  seldom  sinks, 
but  rises  in  it.  The  grisette  eventually  keeps  her  carriage,  and 
retires  with  sufficient  to  support  her  in  her  old  age,  if  she  does 
not  marry.  The  American  women  of  this  class  appear  to  me  to 
be  precisely  the  same  description  of  people;  whereas,  in  Eng- 
land, a  woman  who  falls,  falls  never  to  rise  again— sinking  down 
by  degrees  from  bad  to  worse,  until  she  ends  her  days  in  rags 
and  misery.  But  why  sol  because,  as  you  say,  they  become 
reckless  and  intemperate — they  do  feel  their  degradation,  and 
cannot  bear  up  against  it — they  attempt  to  drown  conscience, 
and  die  from  the  vain  attempt.  Now,  the  French  and  the 
American  women  of  this  class  apparently  do  not  feel  this,  and, 
therefore,  they  behave  and  do  better.  This  is  one  reason  why 
I  argue  that  the  standard  of  morality  is  not  so  high  in  your 
country  as  with  us,  although  from  circumstances,  conjugal  infi- 
delity may  be  less  frequent." 

"  Then,  captain,  you  mean  to  say  that  cursing,  swearing,  and 
drinking,  is  a  proof  of  morality  in  your  country  T* 

"  It  is  a  proof,  not  of  the  mora!  iiy  of  the  party,  but  of  the  high 
estimation  in  which  virtue  is  held,  shown  by  the  indifference 
and  disregard  to  every  thing  else  after  virtue  is  once  lost." 

This  is  a  specimen  of  many  arguments  held  with  the  Ameri- 
cans upon  that  question,  and  when  examining  into  it,  it  should 
be  borne  in  mind  that  there  is  much  less  excuse  for  vice  in 
America  than  in  the  Old  Countries.  Poverty  is"  but  too  often 
the  mother  of  crime,  and  in  America  it  may  be  said  that  there  is 
no  poverty  to  offer  up  in  extenuation. 

Mr.  Carey  appears  to  have  lost  sight  of  this  fact  when  he  so 
triumphantly  points  at  tlie  difference  between  the  working  classes 
of  both  nations,  and  quotes  the  Report  of  our  Poor  Law  Com- 
missioners to  prove  the  wreichedness  and  misery  of  ours.  I 
cannot,  however,  allow  his  assertions  to  pass  without  observa- 


MARKY\T^8  DIARY. 


115 


tion,  rsppclally  as  Engliali  nnd  Vrciioh  travellers  linvo  hern 
equally  content  to  admit  witliout  due  exaniin.ition  the  claims  of 
the  Americans;  1  refer  more  particularly  to  the  larj^e  manufac- 
tory at  Lowell,  in  Massachusetts,  which  from  its  assj-rled  purity 
has  heen  one  of  the  boasts  of  Anterica.     Mr.  (.arey  says — 

♦'The  fi»n  "wing  passage  from  a  statement,  furnished  hy  the 
manager  of  ouf*  of  the  principal  establishments  in  Lowell,  shows 
a  very  gratifying  staiv  of  things; — 'There  have  only  occurred 
three  instances  in  whu  h  iv  apparently  improper  connection  or 
intimacy  had  tak«'n  plnce,  and  in  all  those  cases  the  parties  were 
married  on  the  discovery,  and  several  months  prior  to  the  birth 
of  their  childrc";  so  that,  in  ii  legal  point  of  view,  no  illegiti- 
mate birth  has  tak^n  place  among  tip  females  employed  in  the 
mills  under  my  direction.  Nor  have  I  known  of  but  one  case 
among  all  the  females  engaged  in  Lowell.  I  have  said  known 
— 1  should  say  heard  of  one  case.  1  am  just  informed,  that  that 
was  a  case  where  the  female  had  been  employed  but  a  few  days 
in  any  mill,  and  was  forthwith  rejected  from  the  corporation,  and 
sent  to  her  friends.  In  point  of  female  chastity,  1  believe  that 
Lowell  is  as  free  from  reproach  as  any  place  of  an  equal  popula- 
lation  in  the  United  States  or  the  world.' " 

And  he  winds  up  his  chapter  with  the  following  remark: — 

"The  eflect  upon  morals  of  this  state  of  things,  is  of  the  most 
gratifying  charactrer.  The  number  of  illegitimate  children  born 
in  the  United  States  is  small;  so  small,  that  we  should  suppose 
one  in  fifty  to  be  a  high  estimate.  In  the  great  factories  of  the  east- 
ern states  there  prevails  a  high  degree  of  morality,  presenting  a 
most  extraordinary  contrast  to  the  immorality  represented  to  ex- 
ist in  a  large  portion  of  those  of  England." 

Next  follows  Miss  Martineau,  who  says— 

"The  morals  of  the  female  factory  population  may  be  expected 
to  be  good  when  it  is  considered  of  what  class  it  is  composed. 
Many  of  the  girls  are  in  the  factories  because  they  have  too 
much  pride  for  domestic  service.  Girls  who  are  too  proud  for 
domestic  service  as  it  is  in  America,  can  hardly  be  low  enough 
for  any  gross  immorality,  or  to  need  watching,  or  not  to  he 
trusted  to  avoid  the  contagion  of  evil  example.  To  a  stranger, 
their  pride  seems  to  have  taken  a  mistaken  direction,  and  they 
appear  to  deprive  themselves  of  a  respectable  home  and  station, 
and  many  benefits,  by  their  dislike  of  service;  but  this  is  alto- 
gether their  own  affair,  they  must  choose  for  themselves  their 
way  of  life.  But  the  reasons  of  their  choice  indicate  a  state  of 
mind  superior  to  the  grossest  dangers  of  their  position." 

And  the  Rev.  Mr,  Reid  also  echoes  the  praise  of  the  factory 
girls  given  by  others,  although  he  admits  that  their  dress  was 
above  their  state  and  condition,  and  that  he  was  surprised  to  see 
them  appear  "  in  silks^  with  scarf s^  veils^  and  parasols.''^ 

Here  is  a  mass  of  evidence  opposed  to  me,  but  the  American  evi- 
dence must  be  received  with  all  due  caution;  and  as  for  the  Eng- 
lish, I  consider  it  rather  favorable  to  my  side  of  the  question  than 
otherwise.    Miss  Martineau  says  that  "  the  girls  have  too  much 


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pride  for  domestic  service,"  and  therefore,  argues  that  they  will 
not  he  immoral;  now,  (he  two  great  causes  of  women  falling  off 
from  virtue,  are  poverty  and  false  pride.  What  difference  there 
is  between  receiving  money  for  watching  a  spinning-jenny,  and 
doing  household  work,  I  do  not  see;  in  either  case  it  is  sevitude, 
although  the  former  may  be  preferred,  as  being  less  under  con- 
trol, and  leaving  more  time  at  your  own  disposal.  I  consider  the 
pride,  therefore,  which  Miss  Martineau  upholds,  to  he  false  pride, 
which  will  actuate  them  in  other  points;  and  when  we  find  the 
factory  girls  vying  with  each  other  in  silks  and  laces,  it  be- 
comes a  query  whether  the  passion  for  dress,  so  universal  in 
America,  may  not  have  its  effect  there  as  well  as  elsewhere.  I 
must  confess  that  I  went  to  Lowell  doubting  all  I  had  heard — it 
was  so  contrary  to  human  nature  that  five  hundred  girls  should 
live  among  a  population  of  fifteen  hundred,  or  more,  all  pure  and 
virtuous,  and  all  dressed  in  silks  and  satin. 

When  I  went  to  Lowell  I  travelled  with  an  American  gentle- 
man, who  will,  1  have  no  doubt,  corroborate  my  statement,  and 
I  must  say  that,  however  pure  Lowell  may  have  been  at  the  time 
when  the  encomiums  were  passed  upon  it,  I  have  every  reason 
to  believe,  from  American  authority  as  well  as  my  own  observa- 
tion, that  a  great  alteration  has  taken  place,  and  that  the  manu- 
factories have  retrograded  with  the  whole  mass  of  American 
society.  In  the  first  place,  1  never  heard  a  move  accomplished 
swearer,  east  of  the  Alleghanies,  than  one  young  lady  who  ad- 
dressed me  and  my  Amejican  friend,  and  as  it  was  the  only  instance 
of  swearing  on  the  part  of  a  female  that  I  ever  met  wi4h  in  the 
United  States,  it  was  the  more  remarkable.  I  shall  only  observe, 
that  two  days  at  Lowell  convinced  me  that  "  human  nature  was 
the  same  every  where,"  and  thus  I  dismiss  the  subject. 

Mr.  Carey  compels  me  to  make  a  remark  which  I  would 
gladly  have  avoided,  but  as  he  brings  forward  his  comparative 
statements  of  the  number  of  illegitimate  children  born  in  the  two 
countries  as  a  proof  of  the  superior  morality  of  America,  I  must 
point  out  to  him  what  I  suspect  he  is  not  aware  of.  Public 
opinion  acts  as  law  in  America;  appearances  are  there  substi- 
tuted for  the  reality,  and  provided  appearances  are  kept  up, 
whether  it  be  in  religion  or  morality,  it  is  sufficient;  but  should 
an  exposure  take  place,  there  is  no  mercy  for  the  offender.  As 
those  who  have  really  the  least  virtue  in  themselves  are  always 
the  loudest  to  cry  out  at  any  lapse  which  may  be  discovered  in 
others,  so  does  society  in  America  pour  out  its  anathemas  in  the 
inverse  ratio  of  its  real  purity.  Now,  although  the  authority  I 
speak  from  is  undoubted,  at  the  same  time  I  wish  to  say  as  little 
as  possible.  That  there  are  fewer  illegitimate  children  born  in 
the  United  States  is  very  true.  But  why  so?  because  public 
opinion  there  acts  as  the  bastardy  clause  in  the  new  poor  law 
bill  has  done  in  this  country;  and  if  Mr.  Carey  will  only  inquire 
in  his  own  city,  he  will  find  that  I  should  be  justified  if  1  said 
twice  as  much,  as  I  have  been  compelled  in  defence  of  my  own 
country  to  say,  upon  so   mpleasant  a  subject. 


MARRY AT*S  DIARY. 


117 


li  I  ■ 


CHAPTER  X. 


PUBLIC  OPINION,  OR  THE  MAJORITY. 


The  majority  are  always  in  the  ri{i;ht,  so  says  Miss  Mar- 
tineau,  and  so  have  said  greater  people  than  even  Miss  Mar- 
tineau;  to  be  sure  Miss  Martineau  qualifies  her  expression  after- 
wards, when  she  declares  that  they  always  will  be  right  in  the 
end.  What  she  means  by  that  I  do  not  exactly  comprehend; 
the  end  of  a  majority  is  its  subsiding  into  a  minority,  and  a  mi- 
nority is  generally  right.  But  I  rather  think  that  she  would 
imply  that  they  will  repent  and  see  their  folly  when  the  conse- 
quences fall  heavily  upon  them.  The  great  question  is,  what  is 
a  majority?  must  it  be  a  whole  nation,  or  a  portion  of  a  nation, 
or  a  portion  of  the  population  of  a  city;  or,  in  fact,  any  plus 
against  any  minus,  be  they  small  or  be  they  large.  For  instance, 
two  against  one  are  a  majority,  and,  if  so,  any  two  scoundrels 
may  murder  an  honest  man  and  be  in  the  right;  or  it  may  be  the 
majority  in  any  city,  as  in  Baltimore,  where  they  rose  and  mur- 
dered an  unfortunate  minority;*  or  it  may  be  a  majority  on  the 
Canada  frontier,  when  a  set  of  miscreants  defied  their  own  go- 
vernment, and  invaded  the  colony  of  a  nation  with  whom  they 
were  at  peace — all  of  which  is  of  course  right.  But  there  are 
other  opinions  on  this  question  besides  those  of  Miss  Martineau, 
and  we  shall  quote  them  as  occasion  serves. 


*  A  striking  instance  of  the  excesses  which  may  be  occasioned  by 
the  despotism  of  the  majority,  occurred  at  Baltimore  in  1812.  At  that 
time  the  war  was  very  popular  in  Baltimore.  A  journal,  which  had 
taken  the  other  side  of  the  quqslion,  excited  the  indignation  of  the  in- 
habitants by  its  opposition.  The  populace  assembled,  broke  the  printing, 
presses,  and  attacked  tfte  houses  of  the  ncws|)aper  editors.  The  militia 
was  called  out,  but  no  one  obeyed  the  call,  and  the  only  means  of 
saving  the  i>oor  wretches,  who  were  threatened  by  the  frenzy  of  the 
mr)b,  were  to  throw  them  into  prison  as  common  malefactors.  But 
even  this  precaution  was  ineffectual;  the  moh  collected  again  during 
the  night,  the  magistrates  again  made  a  vain  attempt  to  call  out  the 
militia,  the  prison  was  forced,  one  of  the  newspaper  editors  was  killed 
upon  the  spot,  and  the  others  were  leflt  for  dead;  when  the  guilty  par- 
tics  were  brought  to  trial,  they  were  acquitted  by  the  jury. 


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1  have  before  observed,  that  Washingfton  left  America  a  re- 
public; and  that  in  the  short  space  of  fifty  years  it  has  sunk  into 
a  democracy. 

The  barrier  intended  to  be  raised  aofainst  the  encroachmerits 
of  the  people  has  been  swept  away;  the  senate  (which  was  in- 
tended, by  the  arrangements  for  its  election,  to  have  served  as 
the  aristocracy  of  the  lejrislature,  as  a  deliberative  check  to  the 
impetus  of  the  majority,  like  our  House  of  Lords)  having  latterly 
become  virtually  nothing  more  than  a  second  congress,  receiving 
instructions,  and  submissive  to  them,  like  a  pledged  representa- 
tive.    This  is  what  Washington  did  not  foresee. 

Washington  was  himself  an  aristocrat;  he  slwwed  it  in  every 
way.  He  was  difficult  of  access,  except  to  the  higher  classes. 
He  carried  state  in  his  outward  show,  always  wearing  his  uni- 
form as  general  of  the  forces,  and  attended  by  a  guard  of  honor. 
Indeed,  one  letter  of  Washington's  proves  that  he  was  rather 
doubtful  as  to  the  working  of  the  new  government  shortly  after 
it  had  been  constituted.     He  says — 

"Among  men  of  reflection  few  will  be  found,  I  believe,  who 
are  not  beginning  to  think  that  our  system  is  better  in  tlieory 
than  in  practice^  and  that  notwithstanding  the  boasted  virtue  of 
America,  it  is  more  than  probable  we  shall  exhibit  the /as/  melaiir 
choly  proif^  that  mankind  are  incompetent  to  their  own  govern- 
ment without  the  means  of  coercion  in  the  sovereign.^^* 

This  is  a  pretty  fair  admission  from  such  high  authority;  and 
fifty  years  has  proved  the  wisdom  and  foresight  of  the  observa- 
tion. Gradually  as  the  aristocracy  of  the  country  wore  out,  (for 
there  was  an  aristocracy  at  that  time  in  America,)  and  the  peo- 
ple became  less  and  less  enlightened,  so  did  they  encroach  upon 
the  constitution.  President  after  president  gradually  laid  down 
the  insignia  and  outward  appearance  of  rank,  the  senate  became 
less  and  less  respectable,  and  the  people  more  and  more  autho- 
Titative. 

M.  Tocqueville  says,  "  When  the  American  revolution  broke 
out,  distinguished  political  characters  arose  in  great  numbers; 
for  public  opinion  then  served,  not  to  tyrannise  over,  but  to  di- 
rect the  exertions  of  individuals.  Those  celebrated  men  took  a 
full  part  in  the  general  agitation  of  mind  common  at  that  period, 
and  they  attained  a  high  degree  of  personal  fame,  which  was 
reflected  back  upon  the  nation,  but  which  was  by  no  means  bor- 
rowed from  it." 

It  was  not,  however,  until  the  presidency  of  General  Jackson, 
that  the  democratic  party  may  be  said  to  have  made  any  serious 
inroads  upon  the  constitution.  Their  previous  advances  were 
indeed  sure,  but  they  were,  comparatively  speaking,  slow";  but 
raised  as  he  was  to  the  office  of  President  bv  the  mob,  the  de- 
magogues  who  led  the  mob  obtained  the  offices  under  govern- 


»  Washington's  letter  to  Chief  Justice  Jay,  10th  March,  1787. 


li 


marryat's  diary. 


119 


ment,  to  the  total  exclusion  of  the  aristocratic  party,  whose  doom 
was  then  seal-ed.  Within  the  last  ten  years  the  uHvance  of  the 
people  has  been  like  a  torrent,  sweeping  and  levelllnof  all  before 
It,  and  the  will  of  the  majority  has  become  not  only  absolute 
with  the  government,  but  it  defies  the  government  itself,  which 
is  too  weak  to  oppose  it. 

Is  it  not  strange,  and  even  ridiculous,  that  under  a  govern- 
ment established  little  more  than  fifty  years,  a  government  which 
was  to  be  a  lesson  to  the  whole  world,  we  should  find  political 
writers  making  use  of  language  such  as  this:  "  We  are  for  re- 
form^ sound  pro  If  ressive  reform^  not  subversion  and  destruction." 
Yet  such  is  an  extract  from  one  of  the  best  written  American 
periodicals  of  the  day-     This  is  the  language  that  may  be  ex- 

ftected  to  be  used  in  a  country  like  England,  which  still  legis- 
ates  under  a  government  of  eight  hundred  years  old;  but  what 
a  failure  must  that  government  be,  which  in  fifty  years  calls  forth 
even  from  its  advocates  such  an  admission!! 

M.  Tocqueville  says,  "Custom,  however,  has  done  even  more 
than  laws.  A  proceeding  which  will  in  the  end  set  all  the 
guarantees  of  representative  government  at  nought,  is  becoming 
more  and  more  general  in  the  United  States:  it  frequently  hap- 
pens that  the  electors  who  choose  u  delegate,  point  out  a  certain 
line  of  conduct  to  him,  and  impose  upon  him  a  certain  number 
of  positive  obligations,  which  he  is  pledged  to  fulfil.  With  the 
exception  of  the  tumult,  this  comes  to  the  same  thing  as  if  the 
majority  of  the  populace  held  its  deliberations  in  the  market- 
place." 

Speaking  of  the  majority  as  the  popular  will,  he  says,  "no 
obstacles  exist  which  can  impede,  or  so  much  as  retard  its  pro- 
gress, or  which  can  induce  it  to  heed  the  complaints  of  those 
whom  it  crushes  upon  its  path.  This  state  of  things  is  fatal  in 
itself,  and  dangerous  for  the  future." 

My  object  in  this  chapter  is  to  inquire  what  effect  has  been 
produced  upon  the  morals  of  the  American  people  by  this  ac- 
knowledged dominion  of  the  majority! 

1st.  As  to  the  mass  of  the  people  themselves.  It  is  elear,  if 
the  people  not  only  legislate,  but,  when  in  a  state  of  irritation  or 
excitement,  they  defy  even  legislation,  that  they  are  not  to  be 
compared  to  restricted  sovereigns,  but  to  despots,  whose  will 
and  caprice  are  law.  The  vices  of  the  court  of  a  despot  are, 
therefore,  practised  upon  the  people;  for  the  people  become,  as 
it  were,  the  court,  to  whom  those,  in  authority,  or  those  who 
would  be  in  authority,  submissively  bend  the  knee.  A  despot 
is  not  likely  ever  to  hear  the  truth,  for  moral  courage  fails  where 
there  is  no  law  to  protect  it,  and  where  honest  advice  may  be 
rewarded  by  summary  punishment.  The  people,  therefore,  like 
the  despot  are  never  told  the  truth;  on  the  contrary,  they  receive 
and  expect  the  most  abject  submission  from  their  courtiers,  to 
wit,  those  in  office,  or  expectants. 
Now,  the  President  of  the  United  States  may  be  considered 


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120 


MARRY AT's  diary. 


the  Prime  Minister  of  an  enlightened  puhlic,  who  govern  them- 
selves, and  liis  communication  with  them  is  in  his  annual  mes- 
sage. 

Let  us  examine  what  Mr.  Van  Buren  says  in  his  last  mes- 
sage. 

First,  hehnmhly  acknowledges  their  power. 

*'A  national  hank,"  he  tells  them,  *'  would  impair  the  rightful 
supremacy  of  the  popular  wiliy 

And  this  he  follows  up  with  that  most  delicate  species  of  flat- 
tery, that  of  praising  them  for  the  very  virtue  which  they  are 
most  deficient  in;  telling  them  they  are  "A  people  to  whom  the 
truths  however  unpromising,  can  alwiiys  he  told  with  safety.''^ 

At  the  very  time  when  they  were  defying  all  law  and  all 
government,  he  says,  "  It  was  reserved  for  the  American  Union 
to  test  the  advantage  of  a  government  entirely  dependent  on  the 
continual  exercise  of  the  popular  will,  and  our  experience  has 
shown  that  it  is  as  beneficent  in  practice,  as  well  as  it  is  just  in 
theory.'''* 

At  the  very  time  when  nearly  the  whole  Union  were  assisting 
the  insurrection  in  Canada  with  men  and  money,  he  tells  them 
"That  temptations  to  interfere  in  the  intestine  commotions  of 
neighboring  countries  have  been  thus  far  successfully  resisted." 

This  is  quite  enough;  Mr.  Van  Buren's  motives  are  to  be  re- 
elected as  president.  That  is  very  natural  on  his  part;  but  how 
can  you  expect  a  people  to  improve  who  never  hear  the  truth? 

Mr.  Cooper  observes,  "  Monarchs  have  incurred  more  hazards 
from  follies  of  their  own  that  have  grown  up  under  the  adulation 
of  parasites,  than  from  the  machinations  of  their  enemies;  and 
in  a  democracy,  the  delusion  that  still  would  elsewhere  be  poured 
into  the  ears  of  the  prince,  is  poured  into  those  of  the  people. 

The  same  system  is  pursued  by  all  those  who  would  arrive  at 
or  remain  in  place  and  power;  and  what  must  be  the  conse- 
quence] That  the  straight-forward,  honorable  upright  man  is 
rejected  by  the  people,  while  the  parasite,  the  adulator,  the  de- 
magogue, who  flatters  their  opinion,  asserts  theii  supremacy, 
and  yields  to  their  arbitrary  demands,  is  the  one  selected  by 
them  for  place  and  power.  Thus  do  they  demoralize  each  other; 
and  it  is  not  until  a  man  has,  by  his  abject  submission  to  their 
will,  in  contradiction  to  his  own  judgment  and  knowledge, 
proved  that  he  is  unworthy  of  the  selection  which  he  courts,  that 
he  is  peimitted  to  obtain  it.  Thus  it  is  that  the  most  able  and 
conscientious  men  in  the  States  are  almost  unanimously  rejected. 

M.  Tocqueville  says,  "  It  is  a  well-authenticated  fact,  that  at 
the  present  day  the  most  talented  men  in  the  United  States  are 
very  rarely  placed  at  the  head  of  affairs;  and  it  must  be  acknow- 
ledged that  such  has  been  the  result  in  proportion  as  democracy 
has  outstepped  all  its  former  limits;  the  race  of  American  states- 
men has  evidently  dwindled  most  remarkably  in  the  course  of 
the  last  fifty  years." 

Indeed,  no  high-minded  consistent  man  will  now  offer  himself, 
and  this  is  one  cause  among  many  why  Englishmen  and  fo- 


roigne 
States 
The 
retiree 
rathei 
M. 


Marry at's  diary. 


121 


rmgners  have  not  done  real  justice  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States.  The  scum  is  uppermost,  and  they  do  not  see  below  it. 
The  prudent,  the  enlightened,  the  wise,  and  the  good,  have  all 
retired  into  the  shade,  preferring  to  pass  a  life  of  quiet  retirement, 
rather  than  submit  to  the  insolence  and  dictation  of  a  mob. 

M.  Tocqueville  says,  "Whilst  the  natural  propensities  of  de- 
mocracy induce  the  people  to  reject  the  most  distinguished  citi- 
zens as  its  rulers,  these  individuals  are  no  less  apt  to  retire  from 
a  political  career,  in  which  it  is  almost  impossible  to  retain  their 
independence,  or  to  advance  without  degrading  themselves." 

Again,  "  At  the  present  day  the  most  affluent  classes  of  society 
are  so  entirely  removed  from  the  direction  of  political  affairs  in 
the  United  States,  that  wealth,  far  from  conferring  a  right  to  the 
exercise  of  power,  is  rather  an  obstacle  than  a  means  of  attaining 
to  it.  The  wealthy  members  of  the  community  abandon  the 
lists,  through  unwillingness  to  contend,  and  frequently  to  con- 
tend in  vain,  against  the  poorest  classes  of  their  fellow-citizens. 
They  concentrate  all  their  enjoyments  in  the  privacy  of  their 
homes,  where  they  occupy  a  rank  which  cannot  be  assumed  in 
public,  and  they  constitute  a  private  society  in  the  state  which 
has  its  own  tastes  and  its  own  pleasures.  They  submit  to  this 
state  of  things  as  an  irremediable  evil,  but  they  are  careful  not 
to  show  that  they  are  galled  by  its  continuance.  It  is  even  not 
uncommon  to  hear  them  laud  the  delights  of  a  republican  go- 
vernment, and  the  advantages  of  democratic  institutions,  when 
they  are  in  public.  Next  to  hating  their  enemies,  men  are  most 
inclined  to  flatter  them.  But  beneath  this  artificial  enthusiasm, 
and  these  obsequious  attentions  to  the  preponderating  power,  it 
is  easy  to  perceive  that  the  wealthy  members  of  the  community 
entertain  a  hearty  distaste  to  the  democratic  institutions  of  their 
country.  The  populace  is  at  once  the  object  of  their  scorn  and 
of  their  fears.  If  the  maladministration  of  the  democracy  ever 
brings  about  a  revolutionary  crisis,  and  if  monarchical  constitu- 
tions ever  become  practicable  in  the  United  States,  the  truth  of 
what  I  advance  will  become  obvious/' 

It  appears,  then,  that  the  more  respectable  portion  of  its  citi- 
zens have  retired,  leaving  the  arena  open  to  those  who  are  least 
worthy:  that  the  majority  dictate,  and  scarcely  any  one  ventures 
to  oppose  them;  if  any  one  does,  he  is  immediately  sacrificed; 
the  press,  obedient  to  its  masters,  pours  out  its  virulence,  and  it 
is  incredible  how  rapidly  a  man,  unless  he  be  of  a  superior  mind, 
falls  into  nothingness  in  the  United  States,  when  once  he  has 
dared  to  oppose  the  popular  will.  He  is  morally  bemired,  be- 
spattered, and  trod  under  foot,  until  he  remains  a  lifeless  carcase. 
He  falls,  never  to  rise  again,  unhonored  and  unremembered. 

Captain  Hamilton,  speaking  to  one  of  the  federalist,  or  aristo* 
cratical  party,  received  the  following  reply.  I  have  received 
similar  ones  in  more  than  fifty  instances.  "  My  opinions,  and  I 
believe  those  of  the  party  to  which  I  belonged,  are  unchanged; 
and  the  course  of  events  in  this  country  has  been  such  as  to  im- 
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132 


MARRVAT'S  DIARF. 


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press  only  a  deeper  and  more  thoroug-h'  conviction  of  their  wis- 
dom; but,  in  the  present  state  of  public  feeling,  we  dare  nut 
express  them.  An  individual  professirigr  such  opinions  would 
not  only  find  himself  excluded  from  every  office  of  public  trust 
wiihin  the  scope  of  his  reasonable  ambition,  but  he  would  be 
regarded  by  his  neighbors  and  fellow-citizens  with  an  evil  eye. 
His  words  and  actions  would  become  the  objects  of  jealous  and 
malignant  scrutiny,  and  he  would  have  to  sustain  the  unceasing 
attacks  of  a  host  of  unscrupulous  and  ferocious  assailants." 

Mr.  Cooper  says,  "  The  besetting,  the  degrading  vice  of  Ame- 
rica, is  the  njoral  cowardice  by  which  men  are  led  to  truckle  to 
■what  is  called  public  opinion,  though  nine  times  in  ten  these 
opinions  are  mere  engines  set  in  motion  by  the  most  corrupt  and 
least  respectable  portion  of  the  community,  for  the  most  unwor- 
thy purposes.  The  English  are  a  more  respectable  and  constant 
[unconstanti]  nation  than  the  Americans,  as  relates  to  this 
peculiarity." 

To  be  popular  with  the  majority  in  America,  to  be  a  favourite 
with  the  people,  you  must  first  divest  yourself  of  all  freedom  of 
opinion;  you  must  throw  off  all  dignity;  you  must  shake  hands 
and  drink  with  every  man  you  meet;  you  must  be,  in  fact,  slo- 
venly and  dirty  in  your  appearance,  or  you  will  be  put  down  as 
an  aristocrat.  1  recollect  once  an  American  candidate  asked  me  if 
I  would  walk  out  with  him?  I  agreed  ;  but  he  requested  leave 
to  change  his  coat,  which  was  a  decent  one,  for  one  very  shabby; 
"  for,"  says  he,  "  I  intend  to  look  in  upon  some  of  my  constitu- 
ents, and  if  they  ever  saw  me  in  that  other  coat,  I  should  lose 
my  election."  This  cannot  but  remind  the  reader  of  the  custom 
of  candidates  in  former  democracies — standing  up  in  the  market- 
place as  suppliants  in  tattered  garments,  to  solicit  the  "  voices" 
of  the  people. 

That  the  morals  of  the  nation  have  retrograded  from  the  total 
destruction  of  the  aristocracy,  both  in  the  government  and  in 
society,  which  has  taken  place  withm  the  last  ten  years,  is  most 
certain. 

The  power  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  lower  orders,  the  of- 
fices under  government  have  been  chiefly  filled  up  by  their  favor- 
ites, either  being  poor  and  needy  men  from  their  own  class,  or 
base  and  dishonest  men,  who  have  sacrificed  their  principles  and 
consciences  for  place.  I  shall  enter  more  fully  into  this  subject 
hereafter;  it  is  quite  sufficient  at  present  to  say,  that  during  Mr. 
Adams'  presidency,  a  Mr.  Benjamin  Walker  was  a  defaulter  to 
tlie  amouftt  of  ^18,000,  and  was  in  consequence  incarcerated  for 
two  years.  Since  the  democratic  party  have  come  into  power, 
the  quantity  of  defaulters,  and  the  sums  which  have  been  em- 
bezzled of  government  money,  are  enormous,  an.-^  no  punishment 
of  any  kind  has  been  attempted.  They  s^.v  n  is  only  a  breach 
of  trust,  and  that  a  breach  of  trust  is  not  punishable,  except  by 
a  civil  action;  which  certainly  in  the  United  States  is  of  little 
avail,  as  the  payment  of  the  money  can  always  be  evaded.    The 


^i|i  ■, 


■  1 


marryat's  diary. 


123 


ronseqiience  is  that  you  meet  with  defaulters  in,  I  will  not  say 
the  very  best  society  grenerally,  but  in  the  very  best  society  of 
some  portions  of  the  United  States.  I  have  myself  sat  down  to 
a  dinner  party  to  which  I  had  been  invited,  with  a  defaulter  to 
<rovernment  on  each  side  of  me.  I  knew  one  that  was  setting 
up  for  Connrress,  and,  strange  to  say,  his  delinquency  was  not 
considered  by  the  people  as  an  objection.  An  American  author* 
states,  '•  On  the  17th  June,  1838,  the  United  States  treasurer 
reported  to  Congress  sixfy-fhree  defaulters;  the  total  sums 
embezzled  amounting  to  one  million  twenty  thousand  and  odd 
dollars." 

The  tyranny  of  the  majority  has  completely  destroyed  the 
moral  courage  of  the  American  people,  and  without  moral  cour- 
age what  chance  is  there  of  any  fixed  standard  of  morality? 

M.  Tocqueville  observes,  "  Democratic  republics  extend  the 
practice  of  currying  favour  with  the  many,  and  they  introduce  it 
into  a  greater  number  of  classes  at  once;  this  is  one  of  the  most 
serious  reproaches  that  can  be  addressed  to  them.  In  democra- 
tic States  organized  on  the  principles  of  the  American  republics 
this  is  more  especially  the  case,  where  the  authority  of  the  ma- 
jority is  so  absolute  and  irresistible,  that  a  man  must  give  up  his 
rights  as  a  citizen,  and  almost  abjure  his  quality  as  a  human 
being,  if  he  intends  to  stray  from  the  track  which  it  lays  down. 

"  In  that  immense  crowd  which  throngs  the  avenues  to  power 
in  the  United  States,  I  found  very  few  men  who  displayed  any 
of  that  manly  candor,  and  that  masculine  independence  of 
opinion,  which  frequently  distinguished  the  Americans  in  former 
times,  and  which  constitutes  the  leading  feature  in  distinguished 
characters  wheresoever  they  may  be  found.  It  seems,  at  first 
sight,  as  if  all  the  minds  of  the  Americans  were  formed  upon  one 
model,  so  accurately  do  they  correspond  in  their  manner  of 
judging.  A  stranger  does,  indeed,  sometimes  meet  with  Ameri- 
cans who  dissent  from  these  rigorous  formularies;  v/ith  men  who 
deplore  the  defects  of  the  laws;  the  mutability  and  the  ignorance 
of  democracy;  who  even  go  so  far  as  to  observe  the  evil  ten- 
dencies which  impair  the  national  character,  and  to  point  out 
such  remedies  as  it  might  be  possible  to  apply;  but  no  one  is 
there  to  hear  these  things  beside  yourself,  and  you,  to  whom 
these  secret  reflections  are  confided,  are  a  stranger  and  a  bird  of 
passage.  They  are  very  ready  to  communicate  truths  which  are 
useless  to  you,  but  they  continue  to  hold  a  different  lauguage  in 
public."* 

*  Voice  from  America. 

t  Mr,  Carey  in  his  introduction  says:  *^  Freedom  of  discussion  is 
highly  promotive  of  the  power  of  protection.  The  free  expressions  of 
opinion  in  relation  to  matters  of  public  inicrest  is  indispensable  to 
security." 

He  denies  that  wc  have  it  in  England,  and  would  prove  that  this 
ox'isia  in  America;  and  how? 


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124 


marryat's  diarv. 


Mill       ' 


There  are  a  few  exceptions — Clay  and  Webster  are  men  of 
such  power  as  to  be  able,  to  a  certain  degree,  to  hold  their  inde- 
pendence. Dr.  C banning  has  proved  himself  an  honour  to  his 
country  and  to  the  world.  Mr.  Cooper  has  also  great  merit  in 
this  point:  and  no  man  has  certainly  shown  more  moral  courage, 
let  his  case  be  good  or  not,  than  Garrison,  the  leader  of  the 
abolition  party. 

But  with  these  few  and  remarkable  exceptions,  moral  courage 
is  almost  prostrate  in  the  United  States.  The  most  decided 
specimen  I  met  with  to  the  contrary  was  at  Cincinnati,  when  a 
large  portion  of  the  principal  inhabitants  ventured  to  express 
their  opinion,  contrary  to  the  will  of  the  majority,  in  my  defence, 
and  boldly  proclaimed  their  opinions  by  inviting  me  to  a  public 
dinner.  I  told  them  my  opinion  of  their  behaviour,  and  I  gave 
them  my  thanks.  I  repeat  my  opinion  and  my  thanks  now; 
they  had  much  to  contend  with;  but  they  resisted  boldly;  and 
not  only  from  that  remarkakle  instance  of  daring  to  oppose  pub- 
lic opinion  when  all  others  quailed,  but  from  many  other  circum- 
stances, I  have  an  idea  that  Cincinnati  will  one  day  take  an  im- 
portant lead,  as  much  from  the  spirit  and  courage  of  her  citizens, 
as  from  her  peculiarly  fortunate  position.  I  had  a  striking  in- 
stance to  the  contrary  at  St.  Louis,  when  they  paraded  me  in 
effigy  through  the  streets.  Certain  young  Bostonians,  who 
would  have  been  glad  enough  to  have  seized  my  hand  when  in 
the  Eastern  States,  before  I  had  happened  to  affront  the  majority, 
kept  aloof,  or  shuffled  away,  so  as  not  to  be  obliged  to  recog- 
nize me.  Such  have  been  the  demoralizing  effects  of  the  tyranny 
of  public  opinion  in  the  short  space  of  fifty  years,  and  I  will  now 
wind  up  this  chapter  by  submitting  to  the  reader  extracts  from 
the  two  French  authors,  one  of  whom  describes  America  in  17&2, 
and  the  other  in  1835. 

America  in  1782. 

"  Je  vais,  disais-je,  mettre  a  la  voile  aujourd'hui;  je  m'eloigne 
avec  un  regret  infini  d'un  pays  ou  I'on  est,  sans  obstacle  et  sans 
inconvenient,  ce  qu*on  devrait  etre  partout,  sincere^  libre."— 
"  On  y  pense,  on  y  dit,  on  y  fait  ce  q'on  veut.  Rien  ne  vous 
oblige  d'y  etre  ni  faux,  ni  has,  ni  flatteur.  Personne  ne  se 
cheque  de  la  singularite  de  vos  manieres  ni  de  vos  gouts."-— 
Memoires  ou  Souvenirs  de  M.  de  Segur^  vol.  i.  p.  409. 

America  in  1835. 


"  L'Amerique  est  doi.c  un  pays  de  liberte,  oii  pour  ne  blesser 
personne,  on  ne  doit  parlor  librement,  ni  des  gouverans,  ni  des 

Ist.  By  the  permission  of  every  man  to  be  of  any  religion  ho 
pleap's!! 
2d.  By  the  freedom  of  the  press  in  tlie  United  States! ! 


MARRYAT'S  DIART. 


125 


gouvern^s,  ni  des  entreprises  publiques,  ni  des  entreprises  pri- 
vees;  de  rien,  enfin,  de  ce  qu'on  y  rencontre  ri  nonpeut-etre  dii 
climat  et  du  sol;  encore  trouve-t-on  des  Ameicains  prets  a  de- 
fendre  I'un  et  I'autre,  comme  s'ils  avaient  concouru  a  les  for- 
mer."—ilf.  de  Tocqueville  aur  la  Demoeratie  aux  Etats  Unis  de 
P^meriquCf  vol.  ii.  p.  118. 


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MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


PATRIOTISM. 


m'  I 


This  is  a  word  of  very  doubtful  meaning;  and  until  we  have 
the  power  to  analyze  the  secret  springs  of  action,  it  is  impossi- 
ble to  say  who  is  or  who  is  not  a  patriot.  The  Chartist,  the 
White  Boy,  may  really  be  patriots  in  their  hearts,  although  they 
are  attempting  revolution,  and  are  looked  upon  as  the  enemies  of 
good  order.   Joseph  Hume  may  be  a  patrici,  so  may  O'Connell, 

so  may ;  but  never  mind;  I  consider  thnt  if,  in  most  cases, 

in  all  countries,  the  word  egotism  were  substituted  it  would  be 
more  correct,  and  particularly  so  in  America. 

M.  Tocqueville  says,  "  The  inhabitants  of  the  United  States 
talk  a  great  deal  of  their  attachment  to  their  country;  but  I  con 
fess  that  I  do  not  rely  upon  that  calculating  patriotism  which  is 
founded  upon  interest,  and  which  a  change  in  the  interests  at 
stake  may  obliterate." 

The  fact  is,  that  the  American  is  aware  that  what  affects  the 
general  prosperity  must  affect  the  individual,  and  he  therefore 
is  anxious  for  the  general  prosperity;  ho  also  considers  that  ho 
assists  to  legislate  for  the  country,  and  is  therefore  equally  in- 
terested in  such  legislature  being  prosperous;  if,  therefore,  you 
attack  his  country,  you  attack  him  personally—you  wound  his 
vanity  and  self-love. 

In  America,  it  is  not  our  rulers  who  have  done  wrong  or  right: 
it  is  we  (or  rather  I)  who  have  done  wron^  or  right,  and  the 
consequence  is,  that  the  American  is  rather  irritable  on  the  sub- 
ject, as  every  attack  is  taken  as  personal.  It  is  quite  ridiculous 
to  observe  how  some  of  the  very  best  of  the  Americans  are 
tickled  when  you  praise  their  country  and  institutions;  how 
they  will  wince  at  any  qualification  in  your  praise,  and  actually 
writhe  under  auy  positive  disparagement.  They  will  put  ques- 
tions, even  if  they  anticipate  an  unfavorable  answer;  they  can- 
not help  it.  What  is  the  reason  of  thisl  Simply  their  better 
sense  wrestling  with  the  errors  of  education  and  long-cherished 
fallacies.  They  feel  that  their  institutions  do  not  work  as  they 
would  wish;  that  the  theory  is  not  borne  out  by  the  practice, 
and  they  want  support  against  their  own  convictions.    They 


«  ' 


MARRY AT's  U^mf* 


127 


cannot  bear  to  eradicate  deep-rooted  pr*  'dices,  wl  >-h  have  been 
from  their  earliest  days  a  source  of  prid  >  and  vain  ^Mory;  and  to 
acknowledge  that  what  they  have  considered  as  most  pc'ect, 
what  they  have  boasted  of  as  a  lesson  to  other  nations,  wha'  ley 
have  suffered  so  much  to  uphold,  in  surrendering  their  1  erty 
of  speech,  of  action,  and  of  opinion,  has  after  all  proved  U,  e  a 
miserable  failure,  and  instead  of  a  lesson  to  other  natioub^a 


warnmg. 


Yet  such  are  the  doubts,  the  misgivings  which  fluctuate  in, 
and  irritate  the  minds  of  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  Ameri- 
cans; and  such  is  the  decided  conviction  of  a  portion  who  retire 
into  obscurity  and  are  silent;  and  every  year  adds  to  the  number 
of  both  these  parties.  They  remind  one  of  a  husband  who, 
having  married  for  love,  and  supposed  his  wife  to  be  perfection, 
gradually  finds  out  she  is  full  of  Aiults,  and  renders  him  any 
thing  but  happy;  but  his  pride  will  not  allow  him  to  acknow- 
ledge that  he  has  committed  an  error  in  his  choice,  and  he  con- 
tinues before  the  world  to  descant  upon  her  virtues,  and  to  conceal 
her  errors,  while  he  feels  that  his  home  is  miserable. 

It  is  because  it  is  more  egotistical  that  the  patriotism  of  the 
American  is  more  easily  roused  and  more  easily  affronted.  He 
has  been  educated  to  despise  all  other  countries,  and  to  look 
upon  his  own  as  the  first  in  the  world;  he  has  been  taught  that 
all  other  nations  are  slaves  to  despots,  and  that  the  American 
citizen  only  is  free,  and  this  is  never  contradicted.  For  although 
thousands  may  in  their  own  hearts  feel  the  falsehood  of  their 
assertions,  there  is  not  one  who  will  venture  to  express  his 
opinion.  The  government  sets  the  example,  the  press  follows 
it,  and  the  people  receive  the  incense  of  flattery,  which  in  other 
countries  is  offered  to  the  court  alone,  and  if  it  were  not  for  the 
occasional  compun'itions  and  doubts,  which  his  real  good  sense 
will  sometimes  visit  him  with,  the  more  enlightened  American 
would  be  happy  in  his  own  delusions,  as  the  majority  most  cer- 
tainly may  be  said  to  be. 

M.  Tocqueville  says,  "  For  the  last  fifty  years  no  pains  have 
been  spared  to  convince  the  inhabitants  of  the  United  States  that 
they  constitute  the  only  religious,  enlightened,  and  free  people. 
They  perceive  that,  for  the  present,  their  own  democratic  insti- 
tutions succeed,  while  those  of  other  countries  fall;  hence  they 
conceive  an  overweening  opinion  of  their  superiority,  and  they 
are  not  very  remote  from  believing  themselves  to  belong  to  a 
distinct  race  of  mankind." 

There  are,  however,  other  causes  which  assist  this  delusion 
on  the  part  of  the  majority  of  the  Americans;  the  principal  of 
which  is  the  want  of  comparison.  The  Americans  are  too  far 
removed  from  the  old  continent,  and  are  too  much  occupied  even 
if  they  were  not,  to  have  time  to  visit  it,  and  make  the  com- 
parison between  the  settled  countries  and  their  own.  America 
is  so  vast,  that  if  they  travel  in  it,  their  ideas  of  their  own  im- 
portance become  magnified.    The  only  comparisons  they  are  able 


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MAHRYAT  9  PIARY. 


to  make  are  only  as  to  the  quantity  of  Hqiraro  acres  in  each  coan- 
try,  which,  of  course,  is  vastly  in  thoir  favor. 

Mr.  Sanderson,  the  American,  in  his  clever  Sketches  of  Paris, 
observes,  '*  It  is  certainly  of  much  value  in  the  life  of  an  Ameri- 
enn  gentleman  to  visit  these  oM  countries,  if  it  were  only  to  form 
a  just  estimate  of  his  own,  which  he  is  continually  liable  to  mis- 
take, and  always  to  overrate  without  objects  of  comparison; 
*  nimium  sc  ststimet  nercsse  cs/,  quise  ncinini  cumparat.^  He  will 
always  think  himself  wise  who  sees  nobody  wiser;  and  to  know 
the  customs  and  institutions  of  foreign  countries,  which  ono 
cannot  know  well  without  residing  there,  is  certainly  the  com- 
plement of  a  good  education." 

After  all,  is  there  not  a  happiness  in  this  delusion  on  the  part 
of  the  American  majority,  and  is  not  the  feeling  of  admiration 
of  their  own  country  borrowed  from  ourselves]  The  feeling  may 
be  more  strong  with  the  Americans,  because  it  is  more  egotistical; 
but  it  certainly  is  the  En<rlish  feeling  transplanted,  and  growing 
in  a  ranker  soil.  We  may  accuse  the  Americans  of  conceit,  of 
wilful  blindness,  of  obstinacy;  but  there  is  after  all  a  great  good 
in  being  contented  with  yourself  and  yours.  The  English  show 
it  differently;  but  the  English  are  not  so  good  tempered  as  the 
Americans.  They  grumble  at  every  thing;  they  know  the  faults 
of  their  institutions,  but  at  the  same  time  they  will  allow  of  no 
interference.  Grumbling  is  a  luxury  so  great,  ihat  an  English- 
man will  permit  it  only  to  himself.  The  Englishman  grumbles 
at  his  government,  under  which  he  enjoys  more  rational  liberty 
than  the  individual  of  any  other  nation  in  the  world.  The 
American,  ruled  by  the  despotism  of  the  majority,  and  with- 
out liberty  of  opinion  or  speech,  praises  his  institutions  to  the 
skies.  The  Englishman  grumbles  at  his  climate,  which,  if  we 
were  to  judge  from  the  vigor  and  perfection  of  the  inhabitants, 
is,  notwithstanding  its  humidity,  one  of  the  best  in  the  world. 
The  American  vaunts  his  above  all  others,  and  even  thinks  it 
necessary  to  apologise  for  a  bad  day,  although  the  climate,  from 
its  sudden  extremes,  withers  up  beauty,  and  destroys  the  nervous 
system.  In  every  thing  connected  with,  and  relating  to  America, 
the  American  has  the  same  feeling.  Calculating,  wholly  mat- 
ter-of-fact and  utilitarian  in  his  ideas,  without  a  poetic  sense  of 
his  own,  he  is  annoyed  if  a  stranger  does  not  express  that  rap- 
ture at  their  rivers,  waterfalls,  and  woodland  scenery,  which  he 
himself  does  not  feel.  As  far  as  America  is  concerned,  every- 
thing is  for  the  best  in  this  best  of  all  possible  countries.  It  is 
laughable,  yet  praiseworthy,  to  observe  how  the  whole  nation 
will  stoop  down  to  fan  the  slightest  spark  which  is  elicited  of 
native  genius — like  the  London  cit.,  who  is  enraptured  with  his 
own  stunted  cucumbers,  which  he  has  raised  at  ten  times  the 
expense  which  would  have  purchased  fine  ones  in  the  market. 
It  were  almost  a  pity  that  the  American  should  be  awakened 
from  his  dream,  if  it  were  not  that  the  arrogance  and  conceit 
arising  from  it  may  eventually  plunge  him  into  difficulty. 


MAF.IIYAT  H  niAHV. 


l-Jl> 


But  Id  us  1)0  fair;  America  is  tluj  country  of  enthuniusm  and 
Ijcpe,  and  wo  must  not  bo  too  sovero  upon  what  from  a  virgin 
«<  il  has  sprunfT  up  too  luxuriantly.  It  it)  but  the  Kngliah  amor 
vatn'iL'  carried  to  to»)  sr<'i»t  an  excosH.  The  Americans  arc  great 
l)oa8ters;  but  are  wo  far  behind  thcnil  One  of  our  most  popular 
songs  runs  as  follows:— 

•'  Wo  ne'er  see  our  foes,  but  wo  wish  them  to  stay; 
They  never  see  us,  but  tiiey  wi«h  us  awuy." 

What  can  bo  more  bragging,  or  more  untrue,  than  tho  words 
«»f  these  lines'?  In  tho  same  way  in  Kngland  tho  common  people 
hold  it  as  a  proverb,  that  "one  Englishman  can  beat  three 
Frenchmen,"  but  there  are  not  many  Englishmen  who  would 
succeed  in  the  attempt.  Nor  is  it  altogether  wrong  to  encourage 
these  feelings;  although  arrogance  is  a  fault  in  an  intlividnal,  in 
a  national  point  of  view,  it  often  becomes  tho  incentive  to  great 
actions,  and,  if  not  excessive,  insures  the  success  inspired  by 
confidence.  As  by  giving  people  credit  for  a  virtue  which  they 
have  not,  you  very  often  produce  that  virtue  in  them,  1  think  it 
not  unwise  to  implant  this  feeling  in  the  hearts  of  the  lower 
classes,  who,  if  they  firmly  believe  that  they  can  beat  three 
Frenchmen,  will  at  all  events  attempt  to  do  it.  That  too  groat 
success  is  dangerous,  and  that  the  feeling  of  arrogance  produced 
by  it  may  lead  us  into  the  error  of  despising  our  enemy,  we  our- 
selves showed  an  example  of  in  our  first  contest  with  America 
during  the  last  war.  In  that  point  America  and  England  have 
now  changed  positions,  and  from  false  education,  want  of  com- 
parison, and  unexpected  success  in  their  struggle  with  us,  they 
are  now  much  more  arroirant  than  we  were  when  most  flushed 
with  victory.  They  are  blind  to  their  own  faults  and  to  the 
merits  of  others,  and  while  they  are  so,  it  is  clear  that  they  will 
oflfend  strangers,  and  never  improve  themselves.  1  have  often 
laughed  at  the  false  estimate  held  by  the  Hiajority  in  America  as 
to  England.  One  told  me,  with  a  patronizing  air,  that  "in  a 
short  time,  England  would  only  be  known  as  having  been  tho 
mother  of  America." 

"  When  you  go  into  our  interior,  captain,"  said  a  New  York 
gentleman  to  me,  "  you  will  see  plants,  such  as  rhododendrons, 
magnolias,  and  hundreds  of  others,  such  as  they  have  no  con- 
ception  of  in  your  own  country." 

One  of  Jim  Crow's  verses  in  America  is  a  fair  copy  from  us: 

"  Englishman  he  beat 
Two  French  or  Portugee; 
Yankec-doodle  come  down, 
Whip  them  all  three.'* 

But  an  excellent  specimen  of  the  effect  of  American  education 
was  given  the  other  day  in  this  country,  by  an  American  lad  of 


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MVRRVAT  S  DIARY. 


fonrteen  or  fifteen  years  old.  He  was  at  a  dinner  party,  and 
after  dinner  the  conversation  turned  upon  the  merits  of  the  Dnke 
of  Wellinorton.  After  liearing  the  just  eneomiums  for  some  tiroe 
with  fidtretty  impatience,  the  lad  rose  from  his  chair,  "  You 
talk  ahout  your  Duke  of  Wellinnrton,  what  do  you  say  to  Wash- 
inopton:  do  you  pretend  to  compare  Wellington  to  Washington? 
-Now,  I'll  just  tell  you,  if  Washington  could  he  standing  hero 
now,  and  the  Duke  of  Wellington  was  only  to  look  him  in  the 

face;  why,  Sir, W^^llington  woiild  drop  down  dead  in  an 

instant."  This  I  was  told  by  the  gentleman  at  whoso  table  it 
occurred. 

Even  when  they  can  use  their  eyes,  they  will  not.  I  ovc- 
heard  a  conversation  on  the  (h>ck  of  a  steam-boat  between  a  man 
who  had  just  arrived  from  England  and  another.  "*  Have  they 
much  trade  at  Liverpool?"  inquired  the  latter.  "  Yes,  they've 
some."  "And  at  London?"  "  Not  much  there,  I  reckon.  New 
\rr\{,  Sir,  is  the  emporium  of  the  whole  world." 

This  national  vanity  is  fed  in  every  possible  way.  At  one  of 
the  museums,  I  asked  the  subject  of  a  picture  representing  a 
naval  engagement;  the  man  (supposing  I  was  an  American,  I 
presume)  replied,  "  that  ship  there,"  pointing  to  one  twice  as  big 
as  the  other,  "is  the  Macedonian  English  frigate,  and  that  other 
frigate,"  pointing  to  the  small  one,  "is  the  Constitution  Ameri- 
can frigate,  which  captured  her  in  less  than  five  minutes."  In- 
deed, so  great  has  this  feeling  become  from  indulgence,  that 
they  will  not  allow  any  thing  to  stand  in  its  w^ay,  and  will  sa- 
crifice any  body  or  any  thing  to  support  it.  It  was  not  until  I 
arrived  in  the  United  States  that  I  was  informed  by  sever?! 
people  that  Captain  Lawrence,  who  commanded  the  Chesapeake, 
was  drunk  when  he  went  into  action.  Speaking  of  the  action, 
one  man  shook  his  head,  and  said,  "Pity  poor  Lawrence  had 
his  failing;  he  was  otherwise  a  good  officer."  I  was  often  told 
the  same  thing,  and  a  greater  libel  was  never  uttered;  but  thus 
was  a  gallant  officer's  character  sacrificed  to  sooth  the  national 
vanity.  I  hardly  need  observe,  that  the  American  naval  officers 
are  as  mucii  disgusted  with  the  assertion  as  I  was  myself.  That 
Lawrence  fought  under  disadvantages — that  many  of  his  ship's 
company,  hastily  collected  together  from  leave,  were  not  sober, 
and  that  there  was  a  want  of  organisation  from  just  coming  out 
of  harbor — is  true,  and  quite  sufficient  to  account  for  his  defeat; 
hut  I  have  the  evidence  of  those  who  walked  with  him  down  to 
his  boat,  that  he  was  perfectly  sober,  cool,  and  collected,  as  he 
always  had  proved  himself  to  be.  i3ut  there  is  no  gratitude 
in  a  democracy,  and  to  be  unfortunate  is  to  be  guilty. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  patriotism  of  one  sort  or  the  other  in 
the  American  women.  I  recollect  once,  when  conversing  with 
a  highly-cultivated  and  beautiful  American  woman,  I  inquired 
if  she  knew  a  lady  who  had  been  sometime  in  England,  and 
who  was  a  great  favourite  of  mine.  She  replied,  "Yes." 
"Don't  you  like  her?"     "To  confess  the  truth,  I  do  not,"  re- 


pllC( 

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MARRY AT's  diary. 


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pliod  she;  "  she  is  loo  English  for  me."  "That  is  to  say,  shr 
likes  England  and  the  Knglish."  "That  is  what  1  mean."  [ 
replied,  that  "had  she  been  in  Enjrland,  she  would  probably 
have  become  loo  English  also;  for,  with  her  cultivated  and  ele- 
gant ideas,  she  must  naturally  have  been  pleased  with  the  re- 
finement, luxury,  and  established  grades  in  f?oci(>ty,  which  it  had 
taken  eight  hundred  years  to  produce."  "  If  that  is  to  be  the 
case,  I  hope  1  may  never  go  to  England." 

Now,  this  was  true  patriotism,  and  there  is  much  true  patriotism 
among  the  higher  classes  of  the  American  women;  with  them 
there  is  no  alloy  of  egotism. 

Indeed,  all  the  women  in  America  are  very  patriotic;  but  I  do 
not  give  them  all  the  same  credit.  In  the  first  place,  they  are 
controlled  by  public  opinion  as  much  as  the  men  are;  and  with- 
out assumed  patriotism  they  would  have  no  chance  of  getting 
husbands.  As  you  descend  in  the  scale,  so  are  they  the  more 
noisy;  and,  I  imagine,  for  that  very  reason  the  less  sincere. 

Among  what  may  be  termed  the  middling  classes,  I  have 
been  very  much  amused  with  the  compound  of  vanity  and  igno- 
rance which  I  have  met  with.  Among  this  class  tliey  can  read 
and  write,  but  almost  all  their  knowledge  is  confined  to  their 
own  country,  especially  in  geography,  which  I  soon  discovered. 
It  was  hard  to  beat  them  on  American  ground,  but  as  soon  as 
you  got  them  off  that  they  were  defeated.  I  wish  the  reader  to 
understand  particularly,  that  I  am  not  speaking  now  of  the  well- 
bred  Americans,  but  of  that  portion  which  would  with  us  b« 
considered  as  on  a  par  with  the  middle  class  of  shop-keepers;  for 
I  had  a  very  extensive  acquaintance.  My  amusement  was,  to 
make  some  comparison  between  the  two  countries,  which  I  knew 
would  immediately  bring  on  the  conflict  1  desired;  and  not  with- 
out danger,  for  I  sometimes  expected,  in  the  ardor  of  their  pa- 
triotism, to  meet  with  the  fate  of  Orpheus. 

I  soon  found  that  the  more  I  granted,  the  more  they  demanded: 
z\A  tnat  the  best  way  was  never  to  grant  any  thing.  I  was  once 
in  a  room  full  of  the  softer  sex,  chiefly  girls,  of  all  ages;  whe« 
the  mamma  of  a  portion  of  them,  who  was  sitting  on  the  sofa,  as 
we  mentioned  steam,  said,  "  Well  now,  captain,  you  will  allow 
that  we  are  a-head  of  you  there." 

"  No,"  replied  I,  "  quite  the  contrary.  Our  steam-boats  go  all 
over  the  world— your's  are  afraid  to  leave  the  rivers." 

"Well  now,  captain,  I  suppose  you'll  allow  America  is  a  bit 
bigger  country  than  England  1" 

"  It's  rather  broader — but,  if  I  recollect  right,  it's  not  quite  so 
long." 

"Why,  captain!" 

"  Well,  only  look  at  the  map." 

"  Why,  isn't  the  Mississippi  a  bigger  river  than  you  have  in 
England  1" 

"  Bigger  %    Pooh  !  haven't  we  got  the  Thames  1"  , 

"  The  Thames  1  why  that's  no  river  at  all." 


'       J: 


i      i 


•tU 


;i    . 


n 


i' 


( 


|, 


i 


; 


|r 


Pi:! 


my 


i'-: 


\ 


\  Elf  :■■*■ 


m  i 


m. 


132 


marrvat's  niARV. 


"Isn't  it?     Just  look  at  the  map,  and  mcasaro  them." 

"  Well  now,  captain,  I  tell  you  what,  you  call  your  Britain 

the  mistress  of  the  seas,  yet  we  whipped  you  well,  and  you 

know  that." 
"Oh!  yes — you  refer  to  the  Shannon  and  Chesapeake,  don't 


you 


1" 


"  No !  not  that  time,  because  Lawrence  was  drunk,  they  say; 
but  didn't  we  whip  you  well  at  New  Orleans]" 

"No,  you  didn't." 

"  No  ]  oh,  captain !" 

"I  say  you  did  not.  If  your  people  had  come  out  from  behind 
their  cotton  bales  and  sugar  casks,  we'd  have  knocked  you  all 
into  a  cocked  hat;  but  they  wouldn't  come,  so  we  walked  away 
in  disgust." 

"  Now,  captain,  that's  romancinjr — that  won't  do."  Here  the 
little  ones  joined  in  the  cry,  "We  did  beat  you,  and  you  know 
it."  And  hauling  me  into  the  centre  of  the  room,  they  joined 
hands  in  a  circle,  and  danced  round  me,  singing, 

"  Yankee  doodle  is  a  tnne, 
Which  is  nnlion  handy, 
Ml  the  British  ran  nway 
At  Yankee  doodle  dandy." 

I  shall  conclude  by  stating  that  this  feeling,  call  it  patriotism, 
or  what  you  please,  is  so  strongly  implanted  in  the  bosom  of  the 
American  by  education  and  association,  that  wherever,  or  when- 
ever, the  national  honor  or  character  is  called  into  question,  there 
is  no  sacrifice  which  they  will  not  make  to  keep  up  appearances. 
It  is  this  which  induces  them  to  acquit  murderers,  to  hush  up 
suicides,  or  any  other  offence  which  may  reflect  upon  their  as- 
serted morality.  I  would  put  no  confidence  even  in  an  official 
document  from  the  government,  for  I  have  already  ascertained 
how  they  will  invariably  be  twisted,  so  as  to  give  no  offence  to 
the  majority;  and  the  base  adulation  of  the  government  to  the 
people  is  such,  that  it  dare  not  tell  them  the  truth,  or  publish 
any  thing  which  might  wound  its  self-esteem. 

I  shall  conclude  with  two  extracts  from  a  work  of  Mr.  Cooper* 
the  American: — 

"  We  are  almost  entirely  wanting  in  national  pride,  though 
abundantly  supplied  with  an  irritable  vanity^  which  might  rise 
to  pride  had  we  greater  confidence  in  our  facts." 

"  We  have  t'le  t,onsitiveness  of  provincials,  increased  by  the 
consciousness  of  having  our  spurs  to  earn  on  all  matters  of  glory 
and  renown,  and  our  jealousy  expends  even  to  the  reputations  of  the 
cats  and  dogs.^^' 


\'f 


■m. 


MARRY AT's  diary. 


133 


CHAPTER  XII. 

ENGLAND  AND  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Captain  Hamilton  has,  in  his  work,  expressed  his  opinion 
that  the,  Americans  have  no  feeling  of  ill-will  against  this  coun- 
try. If  Captain  Hamilton  had  stated  that  the  gentlemen  and 
more  respectahle  portion  of  the  Americans,  such  as  the  New 
York  merchants,  &c.,  had  no  feelinj^  acrainst  this  country,  and 
were  most  anxious  to  keep  on  good  terms  with  us,  he  would 
have  been  much  more  correct.  You  will  find  ail  the  respecta- 
ble portion  of  the  daily  press  using  their  best  endeavours  to  re- 
concile any  animosities,  and  there  is  nothing  which  an  Ameri- 
can gentleman  is  more  eloquent  upon,  when  he  falls  in  with  an 
Englishman,  than  in  trying  to  convince  him  that  there  is  no  hos- 
tile feeling  against  this  country.*  I  had  not  been  a  week  at 
New  York  before  I  had  this  assurance  given  me  at  least  twenty 
times,  and  I  felt  inclined  at  first  to  believe  it:  but  I  soon  dis- 
covered that  this  feeling  was  only  confined  to  a  small  minority, 
and  that  the  feelings  towards  England  of  the  majority,  or  demo- 
cratic party,  were  of  (kep  irreconcilable  hatred.  I  ain  sorry  to 
assert  this;  but  it  is  better  that  it  should  be  known,  that  we  may 
not  be  misled  by  any  pretended  good-will  on  the  part  of  the  gov- 
ernment, or  the  partial  good  will  of  a  few  enlightened  individ- 
uals. Even  those  who  have  a  feeling  of  regard  and  admiration 
for  our  country  do  not  venture  to  make  it  known,  and  it  would 
place  them  in  so  very  unpleasant  a  situation,  that  they  can 
scarcely  be  blamed  for  keeping  their  opinions  to  themselves. 
With  the  'English  they  express  it  warmly,  and  I  believe  them  to 
be  sincere;  but  not  being  openly  avowed  by  a  few,  it  is  not  com- 
municated or  spread  by  kindling  similar  warmth  in  the  hearts  of 
others.  Indeed  it  is  not  surprising,  when  we  consider  the  na- 
tional character,  that  there  should  be  an  ill-feeling  towards  Eng- 

*  Soon  after  I  arriwcl  at  New  York,  the  nrival  officers  very  kindly 
sent  me  adijilorna  as  honorarj-  member  of  their  [iVcenni,  over  at  Brook- 
lyn. I  went  over  to  visit  the  Lyceum,  and  auioiio^  dther  portrait-?, 
in  the  most  connpicuous  part  of  the  room,  was  that  ot  VViihim  IV., 
with  the  "Sailor  King"  written  undcrnrath  it  in  larjrc  cn|)it;il«.  As 
for  the  present  Queen,  her  health  has  hccn  repeatedly  dran!;  in  my 
prepcnco  ;  indeed  her  accession  to  our  throne  appeared  to  have  put  a 
large  portion  of  the  Americans  in  good  hnmnnr  with  monarchy.  Up 
to  the  present  siic  has  been  quite  a  pet  of  theirs,  and  they  are  con- 
tinually a^'king  questions  concerning  her.  Tlin  fact  is,  that  the  Ameri- 
cans  show  such  outward  delerencc  to  the  other  sex,  that  I  do  not 
think  they  wouid  have  any  objox'ition  themselves  to  be  governed  by  it; 
and  if  ever  a  monarchy  were  attempted  in  the  United  States,  the  fir»5t 
reigning  sovereign  ought  to  be  a  very  pretty  woman. 
12 


M- 


f; 

'if 


M' 


f 


' 


134 


MARRY  AT  S  DIARV. 


land;  it  would  be  much  more  strange  if  the  feelin«r  did  not  ex- 
ist. That  the  Americans  should,  after  their  strugofle  for  inde- 
pendence, have  felt  irritated  against  the  mother  country,  is  natu- 
ral; they  had  been  oppressed — they  had  successfully  resented 
the  oppression,  and  emancipated  themselves.  But  still  the  feel- 
ing at  that  time  was  different  from  the  one  which  at  present  ex- 
ists. Then  it  might  be  compared  to  the  feeling  in  the  heart  of  a 
younger  son  of  an  ancient  house,  who  had  been  compelled  by 
harsh  treatment  to  disunite  from  the  head  of  the  family,  and  pro- 
vide for  himself— Ptill  proud  of  his  origin,  yet  resentful  at  the 
remembrance  of  injury — at  times  vindictive,  at  others  full  of  ten- 
derness and  respect.  The  aristocratical  and  the  democratical 
impulses  by  turns  gaining  the  ascendant  it  was  then  a  manly, 
fine  feelingf.  The  war  of  1814,  the  most  fatal  event  in  the  short 
American  history,  would  not  have  been  attended  with  any  in- 
crease of  ill-will,  as  the  Americans  were  satisfied  with  their  suc- 
cessful repulse  of  our  attempts  to  invade  the  country,  and  their 
unexpected  good  fortune  in  their  naval  conflicts.  Tliey  felt  that 
they  had  consideration  and  respect  in  the  eyes  of  other  nations, 
and,  what  was  to  them  still  more  gratifying,  the  respect  of  En- 
gland herself.  In  every  point  they  were  fortunate,  for  a  peace 
was  concluded  upon  honourable  terms  just  as  they  were  begin- 
ning to  feel  the  bitter  consetpiences  of  the  war.  But  tlie  efl'cct 
of  this  war  was  to  imbue  the  peoj)le  with  a  strong  idea  of  their 
military  prowess,  and  the  national  glory  became  their  f^ivourite 
theme.  Their  hero.  General  Jackson,  was  raised  to  the  presi- 
dency by  the  democratical  party,  and  ever  since  the  Americans 
have  been  ready  to  bully  or  quarrel  vvith  anybody  and  about 
everything. 

This  feeling  becomes  stronger  every  day.  They  want  to  whip 
the  whole  worhL  The  wise  and  prudent  perceive  the  folly  of 
this,  and  try  all  they  can  to  produce  a  better  feeling;  but  the  ma- 
jority are  now  irresistible,  and  their  fiat  will  decide  upon  war  or 
peace.  The  government  is  powerless  in  opposition  to  it;  all  it 
can  do  is  to  give  a  legal  appearance  to  any  act  of  violence. 

This  idea  of  their  own  prowess  will  be  one  cause  of  danger 
to  their  institutions,  for  war  must  ever  be  fatal  to  democracy. 
In  this  country,  during  peace,  we  become  more  and  more  demo- 
cratic; but  whenever  we  are  again  forced  into  war,  the  reins  will 
be  again  tightened  from  necessity,  and  thus  war  must  ever  in- 
terfere with  free  institutions.  A  convincing  proof  of  the  idea 
the  Americans  have  of  their  own  prowess  was  when  General 
Jackson  made  the  claim  for  compensation  from  the  French. 
Through  the  intermediation  of  England  the  claim  was  adjusted, 
and  peace  preserved;  and  the  Americans  are  little  aware  what  a 
debt  of  gratitude  they  owe  to  this  country  for  its  interference. 
They  were  totally  ignorant  of  the  power  and  resources  of  France. 
They  had  an  idea,  and  I  was  told  so  fifty  times,  that  France  paid 
the  money  from  /ear,  and  that  if  she  had  not,  they  m  ould  have 
**  whipped  her  into  the  little  end  of  nothing." 
I  do  not  doubt  that  ilie  Americans  would  have  tried  their  best; 


MARRY AT^8  DIARY. 


135 


I 


but  lam  of  opinion^  (notwithstanding  the  Americans  would  haro 
been  partially,  from  their  acknowledged  bravery,  successful,) 
that  in  two  years  Trance,  with  her  means,  which  are  well  known 
to,  and  appreciated  by,  the  Ennrlish,  would  (to  use  their  own 
terms  again,)  have  made  "an  everlasting  smash"  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  Americans  would  have  had  to  couclude  an  igno- 
minious peace.  I  am  aware  that  this  idea  will  be  scouted  in 
America  as  absurd;  but  still  1  am  well  persuaded  that  any  pro- 
tracted war  would  not  only  be  their  ruin  in  a  pecuniary  point  of 
view,  but  fatal  lo  their  institutions.     But  to  return. 

There  are  many  reasons  why  the  Americans  have  an  invete- 
rate dislike  to  this  country.  In  the  first  place,  they  are  educated 
to  dislike  us  and  our  monarchical  institutions;  their  short  history 
points  out  to  them  that  we  have  been  their  only  oppressor  in  the 
lirst  instance,  and  their  opponent  ever  since.  Their  annual  cele- 
bration of  the  independence  is  an  opportunity  for  vituperation  of 
this  country  which  is  never  lost  sight  of.  Their  national  vanity 
is  hurt  by  feeling  what  they  would  fam  believe,  that  they  are 
not  the  "greatest  nation  on  earth;"  that  they  are  indebted  to  us, 
and  the  credit  we  give  them,  for  their  prosperity  and  rapid  ad- 
vance; that  they  must  still  look  to  us  for  their  literature  and  the 
fme  arts,  and  that,  in  short,  they  are  still  dependent  upon  Eng- 
land. I  have  before  observed,  that  this  hostile  spirit  against  us 
is  fanned  by  discontented  emigrants,  and  by  those  authors  who, 
to  become  popular  with  the  majority,  laud  their  own  country  and 
defame  England;  but  the  great  cause  of  this  increase  of  hostility 
against  us  is  the  democratic  party  having  come  into  power,  and 
who  consider  it  necessary  to  excite  animosity  against  this  coun- 
try. Whenever  it  is  requisite  to  throw  a  tub  to  the  whale,  the 
press  is  immediately  full  of  abuse;  everything  is  attributed  to 
England,  and  the  machinations  of  England;  she  is,  by  their  ac- 
counts, here,  there,  and  everywhere,  plotting  mischief  and  injury, 
from  the  Gulf  of  Florida  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  If  we  are 
to  believe  the  democratic  press,  England  is  the  cause  of  every- 
tliing  offensive  to  the  majority — if  money  is  scarce,  it  is  England 
that  has  occasioned,  it — if  credii  is  bad,  it  is  England— if  eggs 
are  not  fresh  or  beef  is  tough,  it  is,  it  must  be,  England.  They 
remind  you  of  the  parody  upon  Fitzgerald  in  Smitli's  humorous 
and  witty  "Rejected  Address,"  when  he  is  supposed  to  write 
against  Buonaparte: — 

"  Who  made  the  quartern  loaf  and  Luddites  ri>e, 
Who  fills  the  butchers'  shops  with  larc^e  bhie  files; 
With  a  foul  earthquake  ravaged  the  ('arraccas, 
And  raised  the  price  of  dry  goods  and  tobaccos?" 

Why,  England.  And  all  this  the  majority  do  steadfastly  be- 
lieve, because  they  wish  to  believe  it. 

How,  then,  is  it  possible  that  tb*:  lower  classes  in  the  United 
States,  (and  the  lower  and  unenlightened  principally  compose 
the  majority,)  can  have  other  than  feelings  of  ill-will  towards 
this  country?  and  of  what  avail  is  it  to  us  that  the  high-minded 
and  sensible  portion  think  otherwise,  when  they  are  in  such  a 


If' 


1  n 


«:*M 


iW'ii 


!■' 


i  I 


!!  I   ' 


136 


MARRVAT'S  DIARY. 


-V! 


ii 


m 

i  If 


I" '  ■ 


■  ■■%. 


X  :■ 


';■'■;  Ji? 


^ri 


^  j^-  ■ 


■i  ■■*■  ■--■f 
,t,         "  :  ' 


Ji^t 


trifling  minority,  and  afraid  to  express  their  sentiments'?  When 
we  talk  about  a  nation,  we  look  to  the  mass,  and  that  the  mass 
are  hostile,  and  inveterately  hostile  to  this  country,  is  a  most 
undeniable  fact. 

There  is  another  cause  of  hostility  which  I  have  not  adverted 
to,  the  remarks  upon  them  by  travellers  in  their  country,  such 
as  I  am  now  makiiiy;  but  ?.s  the  Americans  never  hear  the  truth 
from  their  own  countrymen,  it  is  only  from  forei<]fners*  that  they 
can.  Of  course,  after  haviji<r  been  accustomed  to  flattery  from 
their  earliest  days,  the  truih,  vvben  it  does?  come,  lalls  more 
heavily,  and  the  injury  and  insult  which  they  consider  they  have 
received  are  never  forgotten. 

Among"  the  American  authors  who  have  increased  the  ill-will 
of  his  countrymen  towards  this  country,  Mr.  (voopcr  stands  pre- 
eunncnt.  Mr.  Uulwer  has  obsorved  that  the  character  and 
opinions  of  an  author  may  be  prelty  fairly  estimated  by  his  wri- 
tings. This  is  true,  but  tliey  may  bo  much  better  estimated  by 
one  species  of  writing  than  by  anolhe;-.  In  works  of  invention 
or  imagination,  it  is  but  now  and  then,  by  an  incidental  remark, 
that  we  can  obtain  a  clue  to  the  author's  feelintrs.  Carried 
away  by  tbe  interest  of  the  story,  and  the  vivid  scene  presented 
to  the  imagination,  we  are  apt  to  foru)  a  better  opinion  of  tha 
author  than  he  deserves,  because  we  feel  kindly  and  grateful  to 
him  for  the  amusement  which  he  has  afforded  us;  but  when  a 
writer  puts  off  the  holiday  dress  of  fiction,  and  appears  before 
us  in  his  every  day  costume,  giving  us  his  thoughts  and  feelings 
upon  matters  of  fact,  then  it  is  that  we  can  appreciate  the  real 
character  of  "he  author.  Mr.  Coo])er's  character  is  not  to  be 
gained  by  reading  his  "  Pilot,"  but  it  may  be  fairly  estimated  by 
reading  his  "Travels  in  Switzerland,"  and  his  remarks  upon 
England.  If,  then,  we  are  to  judge  of  Mr.  Cooper  by  the  above 
works,  1  have  no  hesitation  in  asserting  that  he  appears  to  be 
a  disappointed  democrat,  with  a  determined  hostility  to  England 
and  the  English.  This  hostility  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Cooper  can- 
not proceed  from  any  want  of  attention  shown  him  in  this 
country,  or  want  of  acknowledgment  of  his  merits  as  an  author. 
It  must  be  sought  for  elsewhere.  The  attacks  upon  the  English 
in  a  work  professed  to  be  written  upon  Switzerland,  prove  how 
rancorous  this  feeling  is  on  his  part;  and  not  all  the  works  pub- 
lished by  English  travellers  upon  America  have  added  so  much 
to  the  hostile  feeling  against  us,  as  Mr.  Cooper  has  done  by  his 
writings  alone.  Mr.  Cooper  would  appear  to  wish  to  detach 
his  countrymen,  not  only  from  us,  but  from  the  whole  European 
Continent.  He  tells  them  in  his  work  on  Sw  iizerland,  that  they 
arc  not  liked  or  esteemed  anywhere,  and  that  to  acknowledge 
yourself  an  American  is  quite  sufficient  to  make  those  recoil  v^-ho 
were  intending  to  advance.     Mr.  Cooper  is,  in  my  opinion,  very 

*  A  proof  that  the  feeling  against  England  is  increasing,  is  the 
singular  fact  llmt  latterly  they  insist  on  calling  the  English  foreign- 
ers,  a  term  which  they  formerly  applied  tQ  other  nations,  but  not  to 
ourMlvea. 


\ 


MARRY AT's  DIART. 


137 


much  mistaken  in  this  point;  the  people  of  the  Continent  do  not  as 
yet  know  enough  of  the  Americans  to  decide  upon  their  national 
character.     He  observes  very  truly,  that  no  one  appears  to  think 
any  thing  about  the  twelve  millions;  why  sol  because  in  Swit- 
zerland, Germany,  and  other  nations  in  the  heart  of  the  Continent, 
they  have  no  interest  about  a  nation  so  widely  separated  from 
them,  and  from  intercourse  with  which  they  receive  neither 
profit  nor  loss.     Neither  do  they  think  about  the  millions  ia 
South  America,  and  not  caring  or  hearing  about  them  they  can 
have  formed  no  ideas  of  their  character  as  a  nation.     If,  then, 
the  Americans  are  shunned,  (which  I  do  not  believe  they  are, 
for  they  are  generally  supposed  to  be  a  variety  of  Englishmen,) 
it  must  be  from  the  conduct  of  those  individuals  of  the  American 
nation  who  have  travelled  there,  and  not  because,  as  Mr.  Cooper 
would  imply,  they  have  a  democratic  form  of  government.    Have 
not  the  Swiss  something  simil  ir,  and  are  they  shunned]     Who 
cares  what  may  be  the  form  of  government  of  a  country  divided 
from  them  by  three  or  four  thousand  miles  of  water,  and  of 
whom  they  have  only  read?     Every  nation,  as  well  as  every  in- 
dividual, makes  its  own  character;  but  Mr.  Cooper  would  prove 
tliat  dislike  shown  to  the  Americans  al)road  is  owing  to  the 
slander  of  them  by  the  English,  and  he  points  out  that  in  the 
hooks  containing  the  namesof  travellers,  he  no  loss  than  twenty- 
five  times  observed  offensive  remarks  written  beneath  the  names 
of  those  who   acknowledged  themselves  Americans.     These 
books  were  at  ditferent  places,  places  to  which  all   tourists  in 
Switzerland  naturally  repair.     JJid  it  never  occur  to  Mr.  Cooper 
that  one  young  fool  of  an  Englishman,  during  his  tour,  might 
iiave  been  the  author  of  all  these  obnoxious  remarks,  and  is  the 
folly  of  one  insignificant  individual  to  be  gravely  commented 
upon  in  a  widely  disseminated  work,  so  as  to  occasion  or  in- 
crease the  national  ill-will?     Sun^y  there  is  little  wisdom  and 
much  captiousness  in  this  feeling. 

How  blinded  by  his  ill-will  must  Mr.  Cooper  be,  to  enter  into 
a  long  discussion  in  the  work  I  refer  to,  to  prove  that  England 
deserves  the  title,  among  other  national  characteristics,  of  a 
black-guarding  nation!  founding  his  assertion  upon  the  language 
of  our  daily  press.  If  the  English,  judged  by  the  prcss^  are  a 
black-guarding  nation,  what  are  the  Americans,  if  they  are  to  be 
judged  by  the  same  standard?  we  must  be  indebted  to  the 
Americans  themselves  for  an  epithet.  To  wind  op,  he  moie 
than  once  pronounced  the  English  to  be  parvenus.  There  is  an 
old  proverb  which  says,  "A  man  whose  house  is  built  of  glass 
should  not  be  the  first  to  throw  stones;"  and  that  these  last  two 
charges  should  be  brought  against  us  by  an  American,  is  cer- 
tainly somewhat  singular  and  unfortunate. 

That  there  should  be  a  hostile  feeling  when  Englishmen  go 
over  to  America  to  compete  with  them  in  business  or  in  any 
profession,  is  natural;  it  would  be  the  same  every  where;  this 
feeling,  however,  in  the  United  States  is  usually  shown  by  an 
attack  upon  the  character  of  the  party,  so  as  to  influence  the 

12* 


III'*!' 


1 


Vii, 


•■   ! 


fek 


138 


MARRTAT^S  DIARX. 


;f  r. 


%i  'i 


public  against  him.  There  was  an  American  practising  phre- 
nology, when  a  phrenologist  arrived  from  England.  As  this 
opposition  was  not  agreeable,  the  American  immediately  circu- 
lated a  report  that  the  English  phrenologist  had  asserted  that  he 
had  examined  the  skulls  of  many  Americans,  and  that  he  had 
never  fallen  in  with  such  thick-headefi  fellows  in  his  life.  This 
was  quite  sufficient — the  English  operator  was  obliged  to  clear 
out  as  fast  as  he  could,  and  try  his  fortune  elsewhere. 

The  two  following  placards  were  given  me;  they  were  pasted 
all  over  the  city.  Whvit  the  offence  was  I  never  heard,  but  they 
are  very  amusing  documents.  It  is  the  first  time,  I  believe,  that 
public  singers  were  described  as  aristocrats  and  Englishmen  of 
the  jftrst  stamp. 

"Americans: 

"  It  remains  with  you  to  say  whether  or  not  you  will  be  im- 
j)osed  upon  by  these  base  aristocrats,  who  come  from  England 
to  America  in  order  to  gain  a  livelihood,  and  despise  the  land 
that  gives  them  bread. 

"  8ome  few  years  since  there  came  to  this  country  three 
'  gentlemen  players,'  \a  ho  were  received  with  open  arms  by  the 
Americans,  and  treated  more  as  brothers  than  strangers ;  when 
their  pockets  were  full,  in  requital  to  our  best  endeavours  to 
raise  liiem  to  their  rjicrit,  the  ungrateful  dogs  turned  round  and 
abused  us.  It  is  useless,  at  present,  to  give  the  names  of  two 
of  those  gentlemen,  ns  they  are  not  now  candidates  for  public 
favour;  but  there  is  one.  Air.  Hodges,  who  is  at  present  engaged 
at  the  Pavilion  Tiieatue.  This  tliini/;  has  said  publicly  that 
the  Americans  were  all  'a  parcel  of  ignoramuses,'  and  that '  the 
yankee  players'  were  '  perfect  fools,  not  possessing  the  least 
particle  of  talent,'  &c.  We  must  be  brief — should  we  repeat  all 
we  have  heard,  it  would  hll  a  page  of  the  News. 

*'  fvill  the  Americans  be  abused  in  tliis  way  without  retalia- 
tion? We  are  always  willing  to  bestow  that  respect  which  is 
due  to  strangers ;  but  when  our  kindness  is  treated  with  con- 
tompt,  and  in  return  receive  base  epithets  and  abuse,  let  us 
"  block  the  game.' 

"  Once  for  all — will  you  permit  this  thing  in  pantaloons  and 
whiskers,  this  brainless,  unideaed  cub,  whoui  a  thousand  years 
will  not  suffice  to  lick  into  a  bear,  longer  to  impose  upon  your 
good  natures]  If  so,  we  shall  conclude  you  have  lost  all  of  that 
spirit  so  characteristic  of  true  born  Americans. 

"A  word  to  Mr.  (])  Hodges. — When  these  meet  your  eye,  a 
lUgnificd  contempt  will  most  opportunely  swell  your  breast — such 
is  ever  the  case  with  the  coward!  In  aflected  scorn  you  will 
seek  a  shelter  from  the  danger  you  dare  not  brave,  but  we  warn 
you  that  one  day  must  overtake  you. 

"  Several  Americans." 


"AMERICANS  ATTEND! 

"Americans: — If  there  is  a  spark  of  that  spirit  in  your  blood 
with  which  your  forefathers  bequeathed  you,  I  hope  you  will 


MARRY AT*3  DIARY. 


139 


1  in- 


land 


show  it  when  men  come  amonor  us  from  a  foreigTrj  shore  to  grjt  a 
living-,  and  while  here  to  speaii  in  terms  towards  our  country 
and  ourselves,  derogatory  to  the  feeiintrs  of  an  American  to  listen 
to.  These  men  that  I  speak  of  are  Mr.  Hodges  and  Mr.  Corri, 
Kiif^Hshmen  of  the  first  stamp,  who  declare  that  the  Yankees, 
(as  we  are  all  termed,  and  proud  of  the  name  I  dare  say,)  *  are 
a  parcel  of  ignoramuses — cannibals — don't  know  how  to  appre- 
ciate talent' — they  possess  very  little  I  am  certain.  However, 
the  thing  stands  thus:  they  have  slandered  our  country — they 
iiave  slandered  MS;  and  if  they  are  pennitled  to  play  upon  the 
boards  of  the  Eagle  Theatre,  I  shall  conclude  that  we  have  lost 
all  that  spunk  so  chaiacieristic  in  a  true  horn  American." 

There  certainly  is  no  good  feeling  in  the  majnrit//  towards 
England,  and  this  is  continually  shown  in  a  variety  of  instances, 
particularly  if  there  is  any  excitement  from  distress  or  other 
rauses.  At  the  time  that  the  great  commercial  distress  took 
place,  the  abuse  of  England  was  beyond  all  bounds;  and  in  a 
jniblic  meeting  of  democrats  at  Philvulclpiiia,  the  first  resolution 
j)assed  was  "that  they  did  not  owe  Enghind  one  farthing,"  and 
this  is  the  general  outcry  of  the  lower  orders  when  any  thing 
was  wrong.  I  have  often  argued  with  them  on  tiiis  subject,  and 
never  could  convince  them.  This  country  has  now  J\fly-five 
viilUons  .Hterlhiu;  invested  in  American  securities,  which  is  u  large 
sum,  and  the  majority  consider  that  a  war  will  Sj)unge  out  this 
debt.  Their  argument  which  they  constantly  urged  against  me, 
Iras  more  soundness  in  it  than  would  i)e  supposed:— "  If  you 
declare  war  with  us,  what  is  the  first  thing  you  dol  You  seize 
all  American  vessels  and  all  American  property  that  you  can  lay 
hold  of,  which  have  entered  into  your  ports  on  the  faith  of  peace 
between  the  two  countries.  Now,  why  have  we  not  an  equal 
right  to  snze  all  English  property  whenever  we  can  find  it  in 
this  country]"  But  this,  as  1  have  observed,  is  the  language  of 
the  democrats  and  locofocos.  There  are  thousands  of  honorable 
men  in  America,  not  only  as  merchants,  but  in  every  other  class, 
who  are  most  anxious  to  kee})  on  good  terms  with  us,  and  have 
the  kindest  feelings  towards  England.  Unfortunately  they  are 
but  few  compared  to  the  majority,  and  much  as  they  may  regret 
the  hostile  feelings  towards  us,  1  am  afraid  that  it  is  wiiolly  out 
of  their  power  to  prevent  their  increase,  which  will  be  in  exact 
proj>orlion  with  the  increase  of  the  popular  sway. 


mn 


■1     :N 

1   ■  ,'    i 

■f: 

;■ 


»5 


CHAPTER  xnr. 

SOCIETY. — GENERAL  CHARACTER,  &C. 

The  character  of  the  Americans  is  that  of  a  restless,  uneasy 
people — they  cannot  sit  still,  they  cannot  listen  attentively,  un- 


140 


MARRY AT*S  DIARY. 


Rl'l 

■| 

!■' 

44 '' 

n.'*'  t 

> 

>' 

ii.;i 

> 

II 


,14*1 


less  the  theme  be  politics  or  dollars— they  must  do  something', 
and,  like  children,  if  they  cannot  do  any  thing  else,  they  will  do 
mischief — their  curiosity  is  unbounded,  and  they  are  very  ca- 
pricious. Acting  upon  impulse,  they  are  very  generous  at  one 
moment,  and  without  a  spark  of  charity  the  next.  They  are 
gfood-tempered,  and  possess  «rreat  energy,  ingenuity,  bravery, 
and  presence  of  mind.  Such  is  the  estimate  I  have  formed  of 
their  general  character,  independent  of  the  demoralising  effects 
of  their  institutions,  which  renders  it  so  anomalous. 

The  American  author,  Mr.  Sanderson,  very  truly  observes  of 
his  countrymen,  that  *'  they  have  grown  vici«us  without  the 
refinements  and  distractions  of  the  fine  arts  and  liberal  amuse- 
ments." The  Americans  have  few  amusements;  they  are  too 
busy.  Athletic  sports  they  are  indifferent  to;  they  look  only  to 
those  entertainments  which  feed  their  passion  for  excitement. 
The  theatre  is  almost  their  only  resort,  and  even  that  is  not  so 
well  attended  as  it  mipht  be,  considering  their  means.  There 
are  some  very  good  and  well-conducted  tlioatrcs  in  America:  the 
l)GSt  are  the  Park  and  National  at  New  York,  the  Tremont  at 
IJoston,  and  the  Chcsnut  Street  Theatre  at  Philadelphia.  The 
American  s/orA  actors,  as  they  term  those  who  are  not  considered 
as  sfars,  are  belter  than  our  own;  but  were  the  theatres  to  depend 
upon  stock  actors  they  would  he  deserted — the  love  of  novelty 
is  the  chief  indhcenient  of  the  Americans  to  frequent  the  theatru, 
and  they  look  for  importations  of  star  actors  from  tliis  country 
as  regularly  as  they  do  for  our  manufactured  goods,  or  the 
fashions  from  Paris.  In  most  of  the  large  cities  they  have  two 
theatres,  one  fur  legitimate  drama,  and  the  other  for  mclo-drama, 
Ace;  as  the  Bowery  Theatre  at  New  York,  and  the  Walnut 
Street  Theatre  in  Philadelphia;  these  latter  are  seldom  visited 
by  tlie  aristocraiical  portion  of  tlie  citizens. 

The  National  Theatre  at  New  Yoek  was  originally  built  as  an 
opera  house,  and  the  company  procured  from  tlie  Havannah;  but 
the  opera,  from  want  of  support,  was  a  failure.  It  has  since 
been  taken  by  Mr.  .Tames  Wallack,  in  opposition  to  the  Park 
'J'heatre.  The  first  two  seasons  its  success  was  indifferent;  the 
Park  having  the  advantarre  in  situation,  as  well  as  of  a  long- 
standing rcj)utation.  But  latterly,  from  the  well-known  talent 
and  superior  management  of  Mr.  Wallack,  and  from  his  unwea- 
ried exertions  in  providing  novelties  for  the  American  public, 
it  has  been  very  successful;  so  nmch  so,  that  it  is  said  this 
last  year  to  have  decidedly  obtained  the  superiority  over  its 
rival.  1  have  seen  some  splendid  representations  in  the  National 
Theatre,  with  a  propriet}^  in  scenery  and  costume  which  is  sel- 
dom exceeded  even  in  our  jjreat  theatres. 

Indeed,  in  three  seasons,  Mr.  Wallack  has  done  much  to  im- 
prove the  national  taste;  and  from  his  exertions,  the  theatres  in 
general  in  America  may  be  said  to  have  been  much  benefitted. 
But  there  is  one  objection  to  this  rivalry  between  the  Park  and 
National;  which  is,  that  the  stars  go  out  too  fast,  and  they  will 
soon  be  all  expended.  Formerly  things  went  on  very  regularly; 
Mr,  Price  sent  out  to  Mr,  Simpson,  duly  inToiced,  a  certain 


porti 
very 
desp 
the  I 

him, 

upon 

work 

the  d 

luiin 

ancc 

th(  m 

agaii 

and 

tbrtu 

favoi 

a  sec 

for  t 

•.my 

is  "th 

of 


marryat's  diary. 


141 


portion  of  talent  for  every  season;  and  Mr.  SinipMon,  who  is  u 
very  clever  nianafjor,  first  worked  it  up  at  New  Yorlv,  and  then 
despatched  it  to  Boston,  Phi'.adelphi'.i,  and  the  other  theatres  in 
the  (Inion.  Rut,  now,  if  Mr.  Simpson  has  two  starH  sent  to 
him,  .lames  Walhick  conies  home,  and  takes  out  three;  w  liere- 
iip  )ii,  Mr.  Price  sends  out  a  hi;T(jrer  star;  and  yo  tht-y  iio  on; 
workiii}^  up  the  stars  so  fast,  that  the  supj)ly  will  never  eciual 
thi^  demand,  'riierc;  an;  not  more?  than  two  or  three  actors  of 
iiniiience  in  Eujjiand,  who  have  not  already  made  their  iippear- 
anee  on  the  American  lioards;  and  next  season  will  pruhahly  usu 
ilum  up.  It  is  true,  that  some  actors  can  reinrn  there  aoain  and 
aq^ain;  as  Power,  who  is  most  deservedly  a  l'avourit(>  with  tlu-m, 
and  hillen  Tree,  who  is  equally  so.  ('(dcstc  has  realised  a  l.irne 
fortune.  Mrs.  Wood,  an<l  the  Iveeleys,  were  also  very  '_;reat 
favourites;  but  there  are  not  many  actors  who  can  venture  there 
a  second  time;  at  least,  not  until  a  certain  interval  has  ehipsed 
for  the  Americans  to  fortjet  them.  When  there  are  no  Iciiocr 
any  stars,  the  theatres  will  not  he,  so  well  atten(h.'d;  a?;,  indeeil, 
is  the  case  every  where.  To  prove  how  fond  the  Americms  are 
uf  any  thing  that  excites  them,  1  will  mention  a  repreS(>iilation 
which  I  one  day  went  to  S(>e — that  of  the  "  Infernal  Retiions." 
There  were  two  or  three  of  these  shown  in  the  different  cities  in 
the  States.  I  saw  the  remnants  of  another,  myself;  hut,  as  the 
inuseuin-lceeper  very  appropriately  observed  to  me,  "  It  was  a 
fine  thintr  once,  but  now  it  had  all  ijone  to  h  — 11"  You  entered 
a  dark  room;  where,  railed  olf  with  iron  railinjL]rs,  you  beheld  a 
lontr  perspective  of  caverns  in  the  interior  of  the  earth,  and  a 
molten  lake  in  the  distance.  In  the  forejrround  were  the  niost 
liorrible  monsters  that  could  be  invented — l)ears  with  men's  heads, 
;j^rovvlin<r — snakes  darting  in  and  out  hissino- — here  a  man  lyinjy 
murdered,  with  a  knife  in  his  heart;  there  a  suicide,  hanjiing  by 
the  neck — skeletons  lying  about  in  all  directions,  and  some 
Wdlkinrr  up  and  down  in  muslin  shrouds.  The  machinery  was 
very  perfect.  At  one  side  was  the  figure  of  a  man  sitting  down, 
with  a  horrible  face;  boar's  tusks  protruding  from  his  mouth, 
his  eyes  rolling,  and  horns  on  his  head;  I  thought  it  was  me- 
chanism as  well  as  the  rest;  and  was  not  a  little  surprised  when 
it  addressed  me  in  a  hollow  voice:  "  We've  been  waiting  some 
time  for  you,  captain."  As  I  found  he  had  a  tongue,  I  entered 
into  conversation  with  him.  The  representation  wound  up  with 
showers  of  fire,  rattling  of  hones,  thunder,  screams,  and  a  regu- 
lar cascade  of  the  d— d,  pouring  into  the  molten  lake.  When  it 
was  first  shown,  they  had  an  electric  battery  communicating 
with  the  iron  railing;  and  whoever  put  his  hand  on  it,  or  went 
too  near,  received  a  smart  electric  shock.  But  the  alarm  created 
by  this  addition  was  found  to  be  attended  with  serious  conse- 
quences, and  it  had  been  discontinued. 

The  love  of  excitement  must  of  course  produce  a  love  of  gam- 
bling, which  may  be  considered  as  one  of  the  American  amuse- 
ments: it  is,  however,  carried  on  very  quietly  in  the  cities.  In 
the  south,  and  on  the  Mississippi,  it  is  as  open  as  the  noon  day; 
and  the  gamblers  may  be  said  to  have  there  become  a  profeSf> 


II  ! 


(■\ 


iia 


MARRYAT  8  DIARY. 


4': 

Pil 


if 

■  t 

;  V 
:  1 

1 

p 

',  < 

sional  people.  I  have  already  mentioned  them,  and  liio  attempts 
which  have  been  made  to  get  rid  of  them.  Indeed,  they  nre  not 
only  gamesters  who  practise  on  the  unwary,  hut  they  combine 
with  ganibliiicr  the  professions  of  fortrery,  and  uttering  of  base 
money.  If  they  lose,  they  only  lose  forjrcjl  notes.  Thrre  is  no 
part  of  the  world  where  forgery  is  carried  on  to  such  an  extent 
us  it  is  in  the  United  States;  chiefly  in  the  western  country.  The 
American  banks  are  particularly  careful  to  guard  airainst  this 
evil,  but  the  ingenuity  of  these  miscreants  is  surprising,  and 
they  will  imitate;  so  closely  as  almost  to  escape  detection  at  the 
banks  tbenisclvcs.  Hank-note  eiigraviiijj  is  cfrtainly  carrifd  to 
the  highest  state  of  perlcMUion  in  tin;  IJiiittul  Stales,  but  almost 
in  vain.  1  have  myself  read  a  notice,  posted  up  at  iJoston, 
which  may  appcr  strange  to  us.  "  Hank  notes  made  h(>r(^  to  any 
pattern."  Hut  the  eastern  banks  are  seldom  forgrnl  upon.  Coun- 
terfeit money  is  also  very  |)lentiful.  When  I  was  in  the  west,  I 
bad  occasiju  to  pay  a  few  dollars  to  a  frieiul:  when  1  saw  liiui  a 
(lay  or  two  afterwards,  be  said  to  nie,  "  Do  you  know  that  three 
dollars  you  gave  me  were  eouiiterfeits'?"  1  apoloyised,  and 
olfered  to  replace  them.  "  Ob  !  no,"  replied  be;  "it's  of  no  eon- 
sequence.  1  gave  tiuMn  in  payiniuit  to  my  poo|)le,  who  told  me 
that  they  were  counterfeit;  but  tbey  said  it  was  of  no  conseiiuenee, 
as  tbey  could  easily  |)ass  them."  In  sonu;  of  ibe  states  lotteries 
have  been  abolished,  in  others  tbey  are  still  permitted.  'I'bey  aru 
upon  the  French  principle,  and  arc  very  popular. 

There  is  one  very  remarkable  point  in  the  Aniericaii  character, 
which  is,  that  tliey  constantly  change  their  professions.  1  know 
not  whether  it  j)roceeds  simply  from  their  love  of  change,  or 
Irom  their  eujbracing  professions  at  so  early  a  period,  that  tbey 
have  not  discovered  the  line  in  which  from  natural  talents  tbey 
are  best  calculated  to  succeed.  I  have  beard  it  said,  that  it  is 
seldom  that  an  American  succeeds  in  the  profession  which  he 
had  first  taken  up  at  the  commencement  of  bis  career.  An  Ame- 
rican will  set  up  as  a  lawyer;'  quit,  and  go  to  sea  for  a  year  or 
two;  come  back,  set  up  in  another  profession;  get  tired  again,  go 
as  clerk  or  steward  in  a  steam  boat,  merely  because  he  wishes 
to  travel;  then  apply  himself  to  something  else,  and  begin  to 
amass  money.  It  is  of  very  little  consequence  what  he  does, 
the  American  is  really  a  jack  of  all  trades,  and  master  of  an}' 
to  which  he  feels  at  last  inclined  to  apply  himself. 

In  Mrs.  Butler's  clever  journal  there  is  one  remark  which 
really  surprised  me.  She  says,  "The  absolute  absence  of  im- 
agination is  of  course  the  absolute  absence  of  humor.  An 
American  can  no  more  understand  a  fanciful  jest  than  a  poetical 
idea;  and  in  society  and  conversation  tlie  strictest  matter  of  fact 
prevails,"  &c. 

If  there  was  nothing  but  "  matter  (fjact^^  in  society  and  con- 
versation in  America  or  elsewhere,  1  imagine  that  there  would 
not  be  many  words  used;  but  I  refer  to  the  passage,  because  she 
says  that  the  Americans  are  not  im  aginative;  whereas,  I  think 
that  there  is  not  a  more  imaginative  people  existing.  It  is  true 
that  they  prefer  broad  humor,  and  delight  in  the  hyperbole,  bat 


MARRTAT^fl  DIARV. 


in 


this  is  to  he  exprctpd  in  a  young  nation;  rspocially  as  their 
fducalion  is,  pronerally  sprakinjT,  not  of  a  kind  to  make  thorn 
pcnsiblc  to  very  rrfincd  wit,  whioh,  I  acknowlcdcrc,  is  thrown 
away  upon  tht;  majority.  What  is  tnrmrd  tho  nndor  ciirrpnt  of 
humor,  as  dedicate  raillery,  for  instanee,  is  eertnirdy  not  under- 
stood. When  they  rend  Snm  Sliek,  they  did  not  perceive  tliat 
the  author  was  hniirhinjr  at  them:  and  the  letters  of  Mnjnr  Jnek 
Downing  arc  mueli  more  appreeiated  in  this  country  than  they 
are  in  America.  Hut  as  for  saying  that  they  are  not  imaginji- 
tive,  is  a  great  error,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  Mrs.  iJ.  has  dis- 
covered it  hy  this  time. 

Mi.^s  Mnrtineau  says,  and  very  truly,  "The  Americans  appear 
to  me  an  eminently  imngiuative  people."  Indeed,  it  is  only  ne- 
C(>ssary  to  read  the  newspnpers  to  1)0  convinced  it  is  the  case. 
'I'he  hyperholo  is  their  jnincipal  forte,  hut  what  is  lying  hut 
imnginalion'?  and  why  do  you  find  that  a  child  of  promising 
talent  is  so  prone  to  lyingl  JJccauso  it  is  the  first  eflbrt  of  a 
strong  imagination.  V\*ii  requires  refinement,  which  the  Ame- 
ricans have  not:  hut  they  have  excessive  humor,  although  it  is!, 
generally  speaking,  coarse. 

An  American,  talking  of  an  ugly  woman  with  a  very  large 
mouth,  stiid  to  me,  "  Why,  sir,  when  slu;  yawns,  you  can  sco 
right  down  to  her  garters;"  and  another,  speaking  of  his  being 
very  sea-siek,  d(\.Iared  "That  he  threw  (very  thing  uj),  down  tu 
his  knee-pans." 

If  there  required  any  proof  of  the  dishonest  feeling  so  preva- 
lent in  the  United  States  arising  from  the  desire  of  gain,  it  would 
be  in  the  fact,  that  almost  every  good  story  whieh  you  hear  ol 
an  American  is  an  instance  of  gnat  ingenuity  and  very  little 
principle.  So  many  have  been  told  alri^adv,  that  I  hesitate  to 
illustrate  my  observation,  from  fear  of  being  accused  of  uttering 
stale  jokes.     Nevertheless  I  will  venture  upon  one  or  two. 

"An  American'  (down  east,  of  course,)  when  his  father  died, 
found  his  patrimony  to  consist  of  several  hundred  dozen  ot' 
boxes  of  ointment  for  the  cure  of  a  certain  complaint,  said  (by 
us)  to  be  more  common  in  the  North  than  in  England.  He 
made  up  his  pack,  and  took  a  round  of  nearly  op.e  hundred  miles, 
going  from  town  to  town  and  from  village  to  village,  ofl'ering 
his  remedy  for  sale.  But  unfortunately  for  him  no  one  was 
afflicted  with  the  complaint,  and  they  would  not  purchase  on  the 
chance  of  any  future  occasion  for  it.  lie  returned  back  to  his 
inn,  and  having  reflected  a  little,  he  went  out,  inquired  where  he 
could  find  the  disease,  and  having  succeeded,  inoculated  himself 
with  it.  When  he  was  convinced  that  he  had  it  with  sufiicient 
virulence,  he  again  set  forth,  making  the  same  round,  and  taking 
advantage  of  the  American  custom,  which  is  so  prevalent,  he 
shook  hands  with  every  body  whom  he  had  spoken  to  on  his 
former  visit,  declaring  lie  was  ♦  'tarnal  glad  to  see  them  again.' 
Thus  he  went  on  till  his  circuit  was  completed,  when  he  repair- 
ed to  the  first  town  again,  and  found  tiiat  his  ointment,  as  h'? 
expected,  was  now  in  great  request;  and  he  continued  his  rout« 
as  before,  selling  every  box  that  he  possessed." 


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144 


MARRY  AT  S  DIARY. 


There  is  a  story  of  a  Yankee  clock-maker's  ingenuity,  that  I 
have  not  seen  in  print.  He  also  "  made  a  circuit,  having  a  hun- 
dred clocks  when  he  started;  they  were  all  very  bad,  which  he 
well  knew;  but  by  '  soft  sawder  and  humfm  natur,'  as  Sarn  Slick 
says,  he  contrived  to  sell  nincty-nino  of  them,  and  reserve  the 
last  for  his  intended  'ru.se.'  lie  went  to  the  house  where  he  had 
sold  the  first  clock,  and  said,  '  WdH,  now,  how  does  your  clock 
gol  very  well,  I  guess.'  The  answer  was  as  he  anticipated, 
*  No,  very  bad.'  '  Indeed!  Well,  now,  I've  found  it  out  at  last. 
You  see,  1  had  one  clock  which  was  I  know  a  bad  one,  and  I 
said  to  my  boy,  'you'll  put  that  '"lock  aside,  for  it  won't  do  to 
sell  such  an  article.'  W(!ll,  the  boy  didn't  mind,  and  left  the 
clock  with  the  others;  and  I  found  out  afterwards  that  it  had 
been  sold  somowlierc.  Mighty  uiikI  I  was,  I  can  tell  you,  for 
I'm  not  a  little  particular  about  uiy  credit;  so  I  have  asked  here 
and  there,  everywhere  almost,  how  my  clocks  went,  and  they  all 
said  that  'they  actually  regulated  the  sun.'  But  I  was  del. r- 
mined  to  find  out  who  had  the  bad  clock,  and  I  am  most  partic- 
ular glad  that  I  have  done  it  at  last.  Now,  you  see  I  have  but 
one  clock  left,  a  very  superior  article,  worth  a  matter  often  dol- 
lars more  than  the  others,  and  1  must  (jive  it  you  in  change, 
and  rU  only  charge  you  five  dollar^i  uillerence,  as  you  have  been 
annoyed  with  the  bad  article.'  The  man  who  iiad  the  bad  clock 
thought  it  better  to  pay  five  dollars  more  to  have  a  good  one;  so 
the  exchange  was  made,  and  then  t!io  Y.^nkee,  proceeding  with 
the  clock,  returned  to  the  next  house.  'Well,  now,  how  does 
your  clock  go]  very  well,  I  guess.'  The  same  answer — the 
same  story  repeated — and  another  five  dollars  received  in  ex- 
change. And  thus  did  he  go  round,  exchanointj  clock  for  clock, 
until  ho  had  recaived  an  extra  five  dollars  for  every  one  which 
he  had  sold." 

Logic. — "A  Yankee  went  into  the  bar  of  an  inn  in  a  country 
town:  '  Pray  wliat's  the  price  of  a  pint  of  shrub]'  'Haifa  dol- 
lar,' was  the  reply  of  the  man  at  the  bar.  'Well,  then,  give  it 
me.'  The  shrub  was  poured  out,  v»hen  the  bell  rang  for  dinner. 
'  Is  that  your  dinner-bell]'  '  Yes.'  '  What  may  you  charge  for 
dinner]'  '  Half  a  dollar.'  '  Well,  then,  I  think  I  had  better  not 
take  the  shrub,  but  have  some  diimer  instead.'  'j'his  was  con- 
sented to.  The  Yankee  went  in,  sat  down  to  his  dinner,  and 
when  it  was  ovTr,  was  going  out  of  the  door  without  paying. 
'Massa,'  said  the  negro  waiter,  'you  not  paid  for  your  dinner.' 
'I  know  tliat;  I  took  the  dimicr  instead  of  the  shrub.'  'But, 
massa,  you  not  pay  for  the  shrub.'  '  Well,  I  did  not  have  the 
shrub,  did  I,  you  nigger]'  said  the  Yankee,  walking  away.  The 
negro  scratched  his  head;  he  knew  that  something  was  wrong, 
as  he  had  got  no  money;  but  he  could  not  make  it  out  till  the 
Yankee  was  out  of  sight." 

I  do  not  think  that  democracy  is  marked  upon  the  features  of 
the  lower  classes  in  the  United  States;  there  is  no  arrogant  bear- 
ing in  them,  as  might  be  supposed  from  the  despotism  of  the 
majority;  on  the  contrary,  I  should  say  that  their  lower  classes 
are  nnuch  more  civil  than  our  own.     1  had  a  slqp  of  equality  on 


MARRYAT's  DIART. 


145 


i    .  ' 


my  first  landing  at  New  York.  I  had  hired  a  truckman  to  take 
up  my  luggage  from  the  wharf;  I  went  a-head,  and  missed  him 
when  I  came  to  the  corner  of  the  street  where  I  had  engaged 
apartments,  and  was  looking  round  for  him  in  one  direction, 
when  I  was  saluted  with  a  slap  on  the  shoulder,  which  was  cer- 
tainly given  with  good-will.  I  turned,  and  beheld  my  carman, 
who  had  taken  the  liberty  to  draw  my  attention  in  this  forcible 
manner.  He  was  a  man  of  few  words;  he  pointed  to  his  truck 
where  it  stood  with  the  baggage,  and  then  went  on. 

This  civil  bearing  is  peculiar,  as  when  they  are  excited  by 
politics,  c  other  causes,  they  are  most  insolent  and  overbearing. 
In  his  ur.v:>\x  "  meanour,  the  citizen  born  is  quiet  and  obliging. 
The  insolence  you  meet  with  is  chiefly  from  the  emigrant  class- 
es.    I  have  before  observed,  that  the  Americans  are  a  good- 
tempered  people;  and  to  this  good  temper  I  ascribe  their  civil 
bearing.     But  why  are  they  good-tempered?    It  appears  to  me 
to  be  one  of  the  few  virtues  springing  from  democracy.     When 
the  grades  of  society  are  distinct,  as  they  are  in  the  older  insti- 
tutions, when  difference  of  rank  is  acknowledged  and  submitted 
to  without  murmur,  it  is  evident  that  if  people  are  obliged  to 
control  their  tempers  in  presence  of  their  superiors  or  equals, 
they  can  also  yield  to  them  with  their  inferiors;  and  it  is  this 
yielding  to  our  tempers  which  enables  them  to  master  us.     But 
under  institutions  where  all  are  equal,  where  no  one  admits  the 
superiority  of  another,  even  if  he  really  be  so,  where  the  man 
with  the  spade  in  his  hand  will  beard  the  millionaire,  and  where 
you  are  compelled  to  submit  to  the  caprice  and  insolence  of  a 
domestic,  or  lose  his  services,  it  is  evident  that  every  man  must 
from  boyhood  have  learnt  to  control  his  temper,  as  no  ebullition 
will  be  submitted  to,  or  unfoUowed  by  its  consjequences.     I  con- 
sider that  it  is  this  habitual  control,  forced  upon  the  Americans 
by  the  nature  of  their  institutions,  which  occasions  them  to  be  so 
good-tempered,  when  not  in  a  state  of  excitement.    The  Ameri- 
cans are  in  one  point,  as  a  mob,  very  much  like  the  English; 
make  them  laugh,  and  they  forget  all  their  animosity  immediately. 

One  of  the  most  singular  points  about  the  lower  classes  in 
America  is,  that  they  will  call  themselves  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
and  yet  refuse  their  titles  to  their  superiors.  Miss  Martineau 
mentions  one  circumstance,  of  which  I  very  often  met  with  simi- 
lar instances.  "  I  once  was  with  a  gentleman  who  was  build- 
ing a  large  house;  he  went  to  see  how  the  men  were  getting  on; 
but  they  had  all  disappeared  but  one.  *  Where  are  the  people?' 
inquired  he.  '  The  gentlemen  be  all  gone  to  liquor^'  was  the  re- 
ply." 

I  bought  one  of  the  small  newspapers  just  as  I  was  setting  off 
in  a  steamboat  from  New  York  to  Albany.  The  boy  had  no 
change,  and  went  to  fetch  it.  He  did  not  come  back  himself, 
but  another  party  made  his  appearance.  "  Are  you  the  r/mn  who 
bought  the  newspaper?"  "  Yes,"  replied  I.  "  The  young  gen- 
tleman who  sold  it  to  you  has  sent  me  to  pay  you  four  cents." 

A  gentleman  was  travelling  with  his  wife,  they  had  stopped 
13 


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146 


MARRY AT'S  DIART. 


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at  an  inn,  and  during  the  gentleman  s  momentary  absence  the 
lady  was  taken  ill.  The  lady  wishing  for  her  husband,  a  man 
Tcxy  good-naturedly  went  to  find  him,  and  when  he  had  succeed- 
ed he  addressed  him,  "  I  say,  Mister,  your  woman  wants  you; 
but  I  telled  the  young  lady  of  the  house  to  fetch  her  a  glass  of 
water." 

There  was  no  insolence  intended  in  this;  it  is  a  peculiarity  to 
be  accounted  for  by  their  love  of  title  and  distinction. 

It  is  singular  to  observe  human  nature  peeping  out  in  the 
Americans,  and  how  tacitly  they  acknowledge  by  their  conduct 
how  uncomfortable  a  feeling  there  is  in  perfect  equality.  The 
respect  they  pay  to  a  title  is  much  greater  than  that  which  is 
paid  to  it  in  England;  and  naturally  so;  we  set  a  higher  value 
upon  that  which  we  cannot  obtain.  I  have  been  often  amused  at 
the  variance  on  this  point  between  their  words  and  their  feelings, 
which  is  shown  in  their  eagerness  for  rank  of  some  sort  among 
themselves.  Every  man  who  has  served  in  the  militia  carries 
his  title  until  the  day  of  his  death.  There  is  no  end  to  gene- 
rals, and  colonels,  and  judges;  they  keep  taverns  and  grog  shops, 
especially  in  the  Western  States;  indeed,  there  are  very  few  who 
have  not  brevet  rank  of  some  kind;  and  I  being  only  a  captain, 
was  looked  upon  as  a  very  small  personage,  so  far  as  rank  went. 
An  Englishman,  who  was  living  in  the  State  of  New  York,  had 
sent  to  have  the  chimney  of  his  house  raised.  The  morning 
afterwards  he  saw  a  labourer  mixing  mortar  before  the  door. 
"  Well,"  said  the  Englishman,  •'  when  is  the  chimney  to  be 
finished?"  "  I'm  sure  I  don't  know,  you  had  better  ask  the 
colonel."  "The  colonel?  What  colonel?"  "  Why,  I  reckon 
that's  the  colonel  upon  the  top  of  the  house,  working  away  at 
the  chimney." 

After  all,  this  fondness  for  rank,  even  in  a  democracy,  is  very 
natural,  and  the  Americans  have  a  precedent  for  it.  His  Satanic 
Majesty  was  the  first  democrat  in  heaven,  but  as  soon  as  he  was 
dismissed  to  his  abode  below,  if  Milton  be  correct,  he  assumed 
his  title. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


ARISTOCRACY. 


If  the  Americans  should  imagine  that  I  have  any  pleasure  in 
writing  the  contents  of  this  chapter,  they  will  be  mistaken;  I 
have  considered  well  the  duty  of  and  pondered  over  it.  I  would 
not  libel  an  individual,  much  less  a  whole  nation;  but  I  must 
speak  the  truth,  and  upon  due  examination,  and  calling  to  my 
mind  all  that  I  have  collected  from  observation  and  otherwise,  I 
consider  that  at  this  present  time  the  standard  of  morality  is 
newer  in  America  than  in  any  other  portion  of  the  civilised  globe. 


MARRTAT^S  DIART. 


147 


I  say  at  this  present  time,  for  it  was  not  so  even  twenty  years 
ago,  and  possibly  may  not  be  so  twenty  years  hence.  There  is 
a  change  constantly  going  on  in  every  thing  below,  and  1  believe, 
for  many  reasons,  that  a  change  for  the  better  will  soon  take  place 
in  America.  There  are  even  now  many  thousands  of  virtuous, 
honourable,  and  enlightened  people  in  the  United  States,  but  at 
present  virtue  is  passive,  while  vice  is  active. 

The  Americans  possess  courage,  presence  of  mind,  perse- 
verance, and  energy,  but  these  may  be  considered  rather  as  en- 
dowments than  as  virtues.  They  are  propelling  powers  which 
will  advance  them  as  a  people,  and,  were  they  regulated  and 
tempered  by  religious  and  moral  feeling,  would  make  them  great 
i  and  good,  but  without  these  adjuncts  they  can  only  become  great 

and  vicious. 

I  have  observed  in  my  preface  that  the  virtues  and  vices  of  a 
nation  are  to  be  traced  to  the  form  of  government,  the  climate, 
and  circumstances,  and  it  will  be  easy  to  show  that  to  the  above 
may  be  ascribed  much  of  the  merit  as  well  as  the  demerits  of  the 
people  of  the  United  States. 

In  the  first  place,  I  consider  the  example  set  by  the  govern- 
ment as  most  injurious:  as  I  shall  hereafter  prove,  it  is  insatiable 
in  its  ambition,  regardless  of  its  faith,  and  corrupt  to  the  highest 
degree.  This  example  I  consider  as  the  first  cause  of  the  de- 
moralization of  the  Americans.  The  errors  incident  to  the  volun- 
tary system  of  religion  are  the  second:  the  power  of  the  clergy 
is  destroyed,  and  the  tyranny  of  the  laiiy  has  produced  the  effect 
of  the  outward  form  having  been  substituted  for  the  real  feeling, 
and  hypocrisy  has  been  but  too  often  substituted  for  religion. 

To  the  evil  of  bad  example  from  the  government  is  superadded 
the  natural  tendency  of  a  democratic  form  of  government,  to 
excite  ambition  without  having  the  power  to  gratify  it  morally 
or  virtuously;  and  the  debasing  influence  of  the  pursuit  of  gain 
is  every  where  apparent.  It'shows  itself  in  the  fact  that  money 
is  in  America  every  thing,  and  every  thing  else  nothing;  it  is 
the  only  sure  possession,  for  character  can  at  any  time  be  taken 
from  you,  and  therefore  becomes  less  valuable  than  in  other 
countries,  except  so  far  as  mercantile  transactions  are  concerned. 
Mr.  Cooper  says — not  once,  but  many  times — that  in  America 
all  the  local  affections,  indeed  every  thing,  is  sacrificed  to  the 
spirit  of  gain.  Dr.  Channing  constantly  laments  it,  and  he  very 
truly  asserts,  "A  people  that  deems  the  possession  of  riches  its 
highest  source  of  distinction,  admits  one  of  the  most  degrading 
of  all  influences  to  preside  over  its  opinions.  At  no  time  should 
money  be  ever  ranked  as  more  than  a  means,  and  he  who  lives 
as  if  the  acquisition  of  property  were  the  sole  end  of  his  exist- 
ence, betrays  the  dominion  of  the  most  sordid,  base,  and  grovel- 
ling motive  that  life  offers;"  and  ascribing  it  to  the  institutions, 
he  says,  "  In  one  respect  our  institutions  have  disappointed  us 
all:  they  have  not  wrought  out  for  us  that  elevation  of  character 
which  is  the  most  precious,  and,  in  truth,  the  only  substantial 
blessing  of  liberty." 

I  have  before  observed,  that  whatever  society  permits,  men 


I      I 


!  il 


148 


MARRY AT'S  DIARY. 


I'll"  J 


>r-  .1' 


'      I  ! 


will  do  and  not  consider  to  be  wrong,  and  if  the  government  con- 
siders a  breach  of  trust  towards  it  as  not  of  any  importance,  and 
defaulters  are  permitted  to  escape,  it  will  of  course  become  no 
crime  in  the  eyes  of  the  majority.  Mr.  Cooper  observes,  "  An 
evident  dishonesty  of  sentiment  pervades  the  public  itself,  which  is 
beginning  to  regard  acts  of  private  delinquency  with  a  dangerous 
indifference;  acts  too  that  are  inseparably  connected  with  the 
character,  security,  and  right  administration  of  the  state." 

Such  is  unfortunately  the  case  at  present;  it  may  be  said  to 
have  commenced  with  the  Jackson  dynasty,  and  it  is  but  a  few 
years  since  this  dreadful  demoralisation  has  become  so  appa- 
rent and  so  shamelessly  avowed.  In  another  work  the  American 
author  above  quoted  observes: 

"  We  see  the  effects  of  this  baneful  influence  in  the  openness 
and  audacity  with  which  men  avow  improper  motives  and  im- 
proper acts,  trusting  to  find  support  in  a  popular  feeling,  for 
while  vicious  influences  are  perhaps  more  admitted  in  other 
countries  than  in  America,  in  none  are  they  so  openly  avowed." 

Surely  there  is  sufficient  of  American  authority  to  satisfy  any 
reader  that  I  am  not  guilty  of  exaggeration  in  my  remarks. 
Nor  am  1  the  only  traveller  who  has  observed  upon  what  is  in- 
deed most  evident  and  palpable.  Captain  Hamilton  says:  "  I 
have  heard  conduct  praised  in  conversation  at  a  public  table, 
which,  in  England,  would  be  attended,  if  not  with  a  voyage  to 
Botany  Bay,  at  least  with  total  loss  of  character.  It  is  impossi- 
ble to  pass  an  hour  in  the  bar  of  the  hotel,  without  being  struck 
with  the  tone  of  callous  selfishness  which  pervades  the  conver- 
sation, and  the  absence  of  all  pretensions  to  pure  and  lofty  prin- 
ciple." 

It  may  indeed  be  fairly  said,  that  nothing  is  disgraceful  with 
the  majority  in  America,  which  the?  law  cannot  lay  hold  of.* 


'     \; 


i»      ,!♦• 


Tr^;* 


*  English  Capital  Invested. — It  is  but  fair  to  give  the  English 
who  have  invested  their  money  in  American  securities,  some  idea  of 
what  their  chance  of  receiving  their  principal  or  receiving  their  inte- 
rest may  be.  As  long  as  it  depends  upon  the  faith  of  those  who  have 
contracted  the  debt,  their  money  is  safe,  but  as  soon  as  the  power  is 
taken  out  of  their  hands,  and  vested  in  the  majority,  they  may  consider 
their  money  as  gone.  I  will  explain  this — at  present  the  English  have 
vested  their  capital  in  canals,  rail-roads,  and  other  public  improve- 
ments. The  returns  of  these  undertakings  are  at  present  honorably 
employed  in  payinsr  interest  to  the  lenders  of  the  capital,  and  if  the 
returns  are  not  sufficient,  more  money  is  borrowed  to  meet  the  de- 
mands of  the  creditor;  but  there  is  a  certain  point  at  which  credit  fails, 
and  at  which  no  more  money  can  be  borrowed;  if  then  no  more  mo- 
ney  can  be  borrowed,  and  the  returns  of  their  rail-roads,  canals,  and 
other  securities  fall  off,  where  is  the  deficiency  to  be  made  good? 
In  this  country  it  would  be  made  good  by  a  tax  being  imposed  upon 
the  population  to  meet  the  deficiency,  and  support)  he  credit  of  the 
nation.  Here  is  the  qnestion: — Will  the  majority  in  America  consent 
to  be  taxed?  I  say,  no — if  they  do,  I  shail  be  surprised,  and  be  most 
happy  to  recant,  but  it  is  my  opinion  that  they  will  not,  and  if  so  the 
English  capital  will  be  lost ;  and  if  the  reader  will  call  to  mind  what 


MARR7AT*8  DIARY. 


149 


1  ill 


You  are  either  in  or  out  of  the  penitentiary;  if  once  in,  you  are 
lost  for  ever,  but  keep  out  and  you  are  as  good  as  your  neijjh- 
bor.  Now  one  thing  is  certain,  that  where  honesty  is  absolutely 
necessary,  honesty  is  to  be  found,  as  for  example,  among  the 
New  York  merchants,  who  are,  as  a  body,  highly  honorable 
men.  When,  therefore,  the  Americans  will  have  moral  courage 
sufficient  to  drive  away  vice,  and  not  allow  virtue  to  be  in  bond- 
age, as  she  at  present  is,  the  morals  of  society  will  be  instantly 
restored— and  how  and  when  will  this  be  effected  ]  I  have  said 
that  the  people  of  the  United  States,  at  the  time  of  the  declara- 
tion of  independence,  were  perhaps  the  most  moral  people  exist- 
ing, and  I  now  assert  that  they  are  the  least  so;  to  what  cause 
can  this  change  be  ascribed?  Certainly  not  wholly  to  the  spirit 
of  gain,  for  it  exists  every  where,  although  perhaps  nowhere  so 
strongly  developed  as  it  is  under  a  form  of  government  which 
admits  of  no  other  claim  to  superiority.  I  consider  that  it  arises 
from  the  total  extinction,  or  if  not  extinction,  absolute  bondage, 
of  the  aristocracy  of  the  country,  both  politically  as  veil  as  so- 
cially. There  was  an  aristocracy  at  the  time  of  the  independence 
— not  an  aristocracy  of  title,  but  a  much  superior  one;  an  aristo- 
cracy of  great,  powerful,  and  leading  men,  who  were  looked  up 
to  and  imitated;  there  was,  politically  speaking,  an  aristocracy 
in  the  senate  which  was  elected  by  those  who  were  then  inde- 
pendent of  the  popular  will;  but  although  a  portion  of  it  remains, 
it  may  be  said  to  have  been  almost  altogether  smothered,  and  in 
society  it  no  longer  exists.  It  is  the  want  of  this  aristocracy 
that  has  so  lowered  the  standard  of  morals  in  America,  and  it  is 
the  revival  of  it  that  must  restore  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States  the  morality  they  have  lost.  The  loss  of  the  aristocracy 
has  sunk  the  Republic  into  a  democracy — the  renewal  of  it  will 
again  restore  them  to  their  former  condition.  Let  not  the  Ame- 
ricans start  at  this  idea.  An  aristocracy  is  not  only  not  incom- 
patible, but  absolutely  necessary  for  the  duration  of  a  democratic 
form  of  government.  It  is  the  third  estate,  so  necessary  to  pre- 
serve the  balance  of  power  between  the  executive  and  the  people, 
and  which  has  unfortunately  disappeared.  An  aristocracy  is  as 
necessary  for  the  morals  as  for  the  government  of  a  nation. 
Society  must  have  a  head  to  lead  it,  and  without  that  head  there 
will  be  no  fixed  standard  of  morality,  and  things  must  remain  in 
the  chaotic  state  in  which  they  are  at  present. 

Some  author  has  described  the  English  nation  as  resembling 
their  own  beer — froth  at  the  top,  dregs  at  the  bottom,  and  in  the 
middle  excellent.  There  is  point  in  this  observation,  and  it  has 
been  received  without  criticism,  and  quoted  without  contradic- 


!     ! 


j-l: 


m 

ill 

r    1 

1   .■« 

.11 


I  have  peintcd  out  as  to  the  probable  efTect  of  the  power  of  America 
working  to  the  westward,  and  the  direct  importation  which  in  a  few 
years  must  take  place,  he  will  see  that  there  is  every  prospect  of  a 
rapid  decrease  in  the  value  of  all  their  securities,  and  that  the  only 
ultimate  chance  of  their  recovering  the  money  is  by  this  country  com- 
pelling payment  of  it  by  the  federal  government. 

13* 


'\k'' 


150 


MARRYAT'S  DIARY. 


1   '1 


rjl 


?.'i 


rii^ 


tion :  but  it  is  in  itself  false;  it  may  be  said  that  the  facts  are 
directly  the  reverse,  there  being  more  morality  among  the  lower 
class  than  in  the  middling,  and  still  more  in  the  higher  than  in 
the  lower.  Wc  have  been  designated  as  a  nation  of  shopkeepers, 
a  term  certainly  more  applicable  to  the  Americans,  ./here  all  are 
engaged  in  commerce  and  the  pursuit  of  gain,  and  who  have  no 
distinctions  or  hereditary  titles.  Trade  demoralizes ;  there  are 
so  many  petty  arts  and  frauds  necessary  to  be  resorted  to  by 
every  class  in  trade,  to  enable  them  to  compete  with  each  other; 
so  many  lies  told,  as  a  matter  of  business,  to  tempt  a  purchaser, 
that  almost  insensibly  and  by  degrees  the  shopkeeper  becomes 
dishonest.  These  demoralizing  practices  must  be  resorted  to, 
even  by  those  who  would  fain  avoid  them,  or  they  have  no 
chance  of  competing  with  their  rivals  in  business.  It  is  not  the 
honest  tradesman  who  makes  a  rapid  fortune;  indeed,  it  is 
doubtful  whether  he  could  carry  on  his  business;  and  yet,  from 
assuetude  and  not  being  taxed  with  dishonesty,  the  shopkeeper 
scarcely  ever  feels  that  he  is  dishonest.  Now,  this  is  the  worst 
state  of  demoralization,  where  you  are  blind  to  your  errors  and 
conscience  is  never  awakened,  and  in  this  state  may  be  consi- 
dered, with  few  exceptions,  every  class  of  traders,  whether  in 
England,  America,  or  elsewhere. 

Among  the  lower  classes,  the  morals  of  the  manufacturing 
districts  and  of  the  frequenters  of  cities,  will  naturally  be  at  a 
low  ebb,  for  men  when  closely  packed  demoralize  each  other; 
but  if  we  examine  the  agricultural  classes,  which  are  by  far  the 
most  numerous,  we  shall  find  that  there  is  much  virtue  and  good- 
ness in  the  humble  cottage;  we  shall  there  find  piety  and  resig- 
nation, honesty,  industry  and  content  more  universal  than  would 
be  imagined,  and  the  Bible  pored  over,  instead  of  the  day-book 
or  ledger. 

»  But  it  is  by  the  higher  classes  cf  the  English  nation,  by  the 
nobility  and  gentry  of  England,  that  the  high  tone  of  virtue  and 
morality  is  upheld.  Foreigners,  especially  Americans,  are  too 
continually  pointing  out,  and  with  evident  satisfaction,  the  scan- 
dal arising  from  the  conduct  of  some  few  individuals  in  these 
classes  as  a  proof  of  the  conduct  of  the  whole;  but  they  mistake 
the  exceptions  for  the  rule.  If  they  were  to  pay  attention,  they 
would  perceive  that  these  accusations  are  only  confined  to  some 
few  out  of  a  class  comprehending  many,  many  thousands  in  our 
wealthy  isle,  and  that  the  very  circumstance  of  their  rank  being 
no  shield  against  the  attacks  made  upon  them,  is  a  proof  that 
they  are  exceptions,  whose  conduct  is  universally  held  up  to 
public  ridicule  or  indignation.  A  crim.  con.  in  English  high  life 
is  exulted  over  Hy  the  Americans ;  they  point  to  it  and  exclaim, 
*'  See  what  your  aristocracy  are!"  forgetting  that  the  crime  is 
committed  by  one  out  of  thousands,  and  that  it  meets  with  the 
disgrace  which  it  deserves,  and  that  this  crime  is,  to  a  certain 
degree,  encouraged  by  our  laws  relative  to  divorce.  Do  the 
Americans  imagine  that  there  is  no  crim.  con.  perpetrated  in  the 
United  States  ]  Many  instances  of  suspicion,  and  some  of  actual 
discovery,  came  to  my  knowledge  even  during  my  short  resi- 


MARRY AT'S  DIARY. 


151 


acts  are 
le  lower 
than  in 
ieepers, 
e  all  are 
have  no 
lere  are 
?d  to  by 
h  other; 
rchaser, 
becomes 
)rted  to, 
have  no 
!  not  the 
ed,  it  is 
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)pkeeper 
he  worst 
rors  and 
»e  consi- 
lether  in 

'acturing 
be  at  a 
h  other; 
y  far  the 
nd  good- 
nd  resior- 
an  would 
day-hook 

1,  by  the 
irtue  and 
I,  are  too 
the  scan- 
in  these 
r  mistake 
ion,  they 
I  to  some 
ds  in  our 
nk  being 
roof  that 
jld  up  to 
high  life 
exclaim, 
crime  is 
with  the 
a  certain 
Do  the 
ed  in  the 
of  actual 
iiort  resi- 


i 


dence  there,  but  they  were  invariably,  and  perhaps  judiciously, 
hushed  up,  for  the  sake  of  the  families  and  the  national  credit. 
I  do  not  wish,  nor  would  it  be  possible,  to  draw  any  parallel 
between  the  two  nations  on  this  point;  I  shall  only  observe  that 
in  England  we  have  not  considered  the  vice  to  have  become  so 
prevalent  as  to  think  it  necessary  to  form  societies  for  the  pre- 
vention of  it,  as  they  have  done  in  the  United  States. 

It  has  been  acknowledged  by  other  nations,  and  I  believe  it  to 
be  true,  that  the  nobility  and  gentry  of  England  are  the  most 
moral,  most  religious,  and  most  honorable  classes  that  can  be 
found  not  only  in  our  country,  but  in  any  other  country  in  the 
world,  and  such  they  certainly  ought  from  circumstances  to  be. 

Possessed  of  competence,  they  have  no  incentives  to  behave 
dishonestly.  They  are  well  educated,  the  finest  race  of  men 
and  women  that  can  be  produced,  and  the  men  are  brought  up  to 
athletic  and  healthy  amusements.  They  have  to  support  the 
honor  of  an  ancient  family,  and  to  hand  down  the  name  untar- 
nished to  their  posterity.  They  have  every  inducement  to  noble 
deeds,  and  are,  generally  speaking,  above  the  necessities  which 
induce  men  to  go  wrong.  If  the  Americans  would  assert  that 
luxury  produces  vice,  I  can  only  say  that  luxury  infers  idleness 
and  inactivity,  and  on  this  point  the  women  of  the  aristocracy  in 
this  country  have  the  advantage  over  the  American  women,  who 
cannot,  from  the  peculiarity  of  the  climate,  take  the  exercise  so 
universally  resorted  to  by  our  higher  classes.  I  admit  that  some 
go  wrong,  but  is  error  confined  to  the  nobility  alone;  are  there 
no  spendthrifts,  no  dissolute  young  men,  or  ill  brought  up  young 
women,  among  other  classes?  Are  there  none  in  America!  More- 
over, there  are  some  descriptions  of  vice  which  are  meaner  than 
others  and  more  debasing  to  the  mind,  and  it  is  among  the  mid- 
dling and  lower  classes  that  these  vices  are  principally  to  be  found. 

The  higher  classes  invariably  take  the  lead,  and  give  the  tone 
to  society.  If  the  court  be  moral,  so  are  the  morals  of  the  nation 
improved  by  example,  as  in  the  time  of  George  III.  If  the  court 
be  dissolute,  as  in  the  time  of  Charles  II.,  the  nation  will  plunge 
into  vice.  Now,  in  America,  there  is  no  one  to  take  the  lead; 
morals,  like  religion,  are  the  concern  of  nobody,  and  therefore  it 
is  that  the  standard  of  morality  is  so  low.  I  have  heard  it  argued 
that  allowing  one  party  to  have  a  very  low  standard  of  morality 
and  to  act  up  to  that  standard,  and  another  to  have  a  high  standard 
of  morality  and  not  to  act  up  to  it,  that  the  former  is  the  really 
moral  man,  as  he  does  act  up  to  his  principles  such  as  they  are. 
This  may  hold  good  when  we  examine  into  the  virtues  and  vices 
of  nations:  that  the  American  Indian  who  acts  up  to  his  own 
code  and  belief,  both  in  morality  and  religion,  may  be  more 
worthy  than  a  Christian  who  neglects  his  duty,  maybe  true;  but 
the  question  now  is  upon  the  respective  morality  of  two  enlight- 
ened nations,  both  Christian,  and  having  the  Bible  as  their  guide 
—between  those  who  have  neither  of  them  any  pretence  to  lower 
the  standard  of  morality,  as  they  both  know  better.  M.  Tocque* 
ville  observes,  speaking  of  the  difiference  between  aristocratical 
and  democratical  governme'Us— 


;Hi  i 


■] 


■  H 


ii.i. 


152 


MARRTAT^S  DIARY. 


'■J 


tVl' 


1'. 


'*''!;  .'< 


"  In  aristocratic  governments,  the  individuals  who  are  placed 
at  the  head  of  affairs  are  rich  nmen,  who  are  solely  desirous  of 
power.  In  democracies  statesmen  are  poor,  and  they  have  their 
fortunes  to  make.  The  consequence  is,  that  in  aristocratic  states 
the  rulers  are  rarely  accessible  to  corruption,  and  have  very  little 
craving  for  money;  whilst  the  reverse  is  the  case  in  democratic 
nations." 

This  is  true,  and  may  be  fairly  applied  to  the  American  de- 
mocracy: as  long  as  you  will  not  allow  the  good  and  enlightened 
to  rule,  yoa  will  be  governed  by  those  who  will  flatter  and  cheat 
you,  and  demoralise  society.  When  you  allow  your  aristocracy 
to  take  the  reins,  you  will  be  better  governed,  and  your  morals 
will  improve  by  example.     What  is  the  situation  of*^ America  at 

E resent]  the  aristocracy  of  the  country  are  either  in  retirement  or 
ave  migrated,  and  if  the  power  of  the  majority  should  continue 
as  it  now  does  its  despotic  rule,  you  will  have  still  further  emi- 
gration. At  present  there  are  many  hundreds  of  Americans  who 
have  retired  to  the  old  continent,  that  they  may  receive  that  re- 
turn for  their  wealth  which  they  cannot  in  their  own  country; 
and  if  not  flattered,  they  are  at  least  not  insulted  and  degraded. 

M.  Sanderson,  in  his  "  Sketches  from  Paris,"  says — 

"The  American  society  at  Paris,  taken  altogether,  is  of  a  good 
composition.  It  consis  ^  of  several  hundred  persons,  of  families 
of  fortune,  and  young  men  of  liberal  instruction.  Here  are  lords 
of  cotton  from  Carolina,  and  of  sugar-cane  from  the  Missis- 
sippi, millionaires  from  all  the  Canadas,  and  pursers  from  all  the 
navies;  and  their  social  qualities,  from  a  sense  of  mutual  de- 
pendence or  partnership  in  absence,  or  some  such  causes,  are 
more  active  abroad  than  at  home. 

"They  form  a  little  republic  apart,  and  when  a  stranger  ar- 
rives he  finds  himself  at  home;  he  finds  himself  also  under  the 
censorial  inspection  of  a  public  opinion,  a  salutary  restraint  not 
always  the  luck  of  those  who  travel  into  foreign  countries.  One 
thing  only  is  to  be  blamed:  it  becomes  every  day  more  the  fashion 
for  the  elite  of  our  cities  to  settle  themselves  here  permanently. 
We  cannot  but  deplore  this  exportation  of  the  precious  metals, 
since  our  country  is  drained  of  what  the  supply  is  not  too  abund- 
ant. They  who  have  resided  here  a  few  years,  having  fortune 
and  leisure,  do  not  choose,  as  I  perceive,  to  reside  any  where 
else." 

This  is  the  fact;  and  the  wealth  of  America  increases  every 
day,  so  will  those  who  possess  it  swarm  off  as  fast  as  they  can 
to  other  countries,  if  there  is  not  a  change  in  the  present  society, 
and  a  return  to  something  like  order  and  rank.  Who  would  re- 
main in  a  country  where  there  is  no  freedom  of  thought  or  ac- 
tion, and  where  you  cannot  even  spend  your  money  as  you 
pleasel  Mr.  fiutler  the  other  day  built  a  house  at  Philadelphia 
with  a  porte-cochere,  and  the  consequence  was  that  they  called 
him  an  aristocrat,  and  would  not  vote  for  him.  In  short,  will 
enlightened  and  refined  people  live  to  be  dictated  to  by  a  savage 
and  ignorant  majority,  who  will  neither  allow  your  character  nor 
your  domestic  privacy  to  be  safel 


MARRY  AT  a  DIARY. 


153 


The  Americans,  in  their  fear  of  their  institutions  giving  way, 
and  their  careful  guard  against  any  encroaciimcnts  upon  the  lib- 
erty of  the  people,  have  fallen  into  the  error  of  sacrificing  the 
most  virtuous  portion  of  the  community,  and  driving  a  large  por- 
tion of  them  out  of  the  country.     This  will  eventually  be  found 
to  be  a  serious  evil;  absenteeism  will  daily  increase,  and  will  be 
as  sorely  felt  as  it  is  in  Ireland  at  the  present  hour.  The  Ameri- 
cans used  to  tell  me  with  exultation,  that  they  never  could  have 
an  aristocracy  in  their  country,  from  the  law  of  entail  having  been 
abolished.     They  often  asserted,  and  with  some  truth,  that  in 
that  country  property  never  accumulated  beyond  two  generations, 
and  that  the  grandson  of  a  miUionaire  was  invariably  a  pauper. 
This  they  ascribe  to  the  working  of  their  institutions,  and  argue 
that  it  will  always  be  impossible  foranyfamily  to  be  raised  above 
the  mass  by  a  descent  of  property.     Now  the  very  circumstance 
of  this  having  been  invariably  the  case,  induces  me  to  look  for 
the  real  cause  of  it,  as  there  is  none  to  be  found  in  their  institu- 
tions why  all  the  grandsons  of  millionaires  should  be  paupers. 
It  is  not  owing  to  their  institutions,  but  to  moral  causes,  which, 
although  they  have  existed  until  now,  will  not  exist  for  ever.  In 
the  principal  and  wealthiest  cities  in  the  Union,  it  is  difficult  to 
spend  more  than  twelve  or  fifteen  thousand  dollars  per  annum, 
as  with  such  an  expenditure  you  are  on  a  pai  with  tlie  highest, 
and  you  can  be  no  more.     What  is  the  consequence?  a  young 
American  succeeds  to  fifty  or  sixty  thousand  dollars  a  year,  the 
surplus  is  useless  to  him;  there  is  no  one  to  vie  with — no  one  who 
can  reciprocate— he  must  stand  alone.     He  naturally  feels  care- 
less about  what  he  finds  to  be  of  no  use  to  him.     Again,  all  his 
friends  and  acquaintances  are  actively  employed  during  the 
whole  of  the  day  in  their  several  occupations;  he  is  a  man  of 
leisure,  and  must  either  remain  aloneor  associate  with  other  men 
of  leisure;  and  who  are  the  majority  of  men  of  leisure  in  the 
towns  of  the  United  States'?     Blacklegs  of  genteel  exterior  and 
fashionable  appearance,  with  whom  he  associates,  into  whose 
snares  he  falls,  and  to  whom  he  eventually  loses  property  about 
which  he  is  indifferent.    To  be  an  idle  man  when  every  body 
else  is  busy,  is  not  only  a  great  unhappiness,  but  a  situation  of 
great  peril.     Had  the  sons  of  millionaires^  who  remained  in  the 
States  and  left  their  children  paupers,  come  over  to  the  old  Con- 
tinent, as  many  have  done,  they  would  have  stood  a  better 
chance  of  retaining  their  property. 

All  I  can  say  is,  that  if  they  cannot  have  an  aristocracy,  the 
worse  for  them;  I  am  not  of  the  opfnion,  that  they  will  not  have 
one,  although  they  are  supported  by  the  strong  authority  of  M. 
Tocqueville,  who  says: 

"  I  do  not  think  a  single  people  can  be  quoted,  since  human 
society  began  to  exist,  which  has,  by  its  own  free  will  and  by 
its  own  exertions,  created  an  aristocracy  within  its  own  bosom. 
All  the  aristocracies  of  the  Middle  Ages  were  founded  by  mili- 
tary conquest:  the  conqueror  was  the  noble,  the  vanquished  be- 
came the  serf.  Inequality  was  then  imposed  by  force;  and  after 
it  had  been  introduced  into  the  manners  of  the  country,  it  main- 


ft 


■  I .  I 


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Vi. 


i\ 


154 


MARRY AT^S  DIARY. 


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n 


il  '11 


tained  its  own  authority,  and  was  sanctionnd  by  the  legialation. 
Communities  have  existed  which  were  aristocatric  from  their 
earliest  oritjin,  owing  to  circumstances  anterior  to  that  event,  and 
which  became  more  democratic  in  each  succeeding  age.  Such 
was  the  destiny  of  the  Ronrans,  and  of  the  barbarians  after  them. 
But  a  people,  having  taken  its  rise  in  civilisation  and  democracy, 
which  should  greatly  establish  an  inequality  of  conditions,  until 
it  arrived  at  inviolable  privileges  and  exclusive  castes,  would  be 
a  novelty  in  the  world;  and  nothing  intimates  that  America  is 
likely  to  furnish  so  singular  an  example." 

I  grant  that  no  single  people  has  by  its  own  free  will  created 
an  aristocracy,  but  circumstances  will  make  one  in  spite  of  the 
people;  and  if  there  is  no  aristocracy  who  have  a  power  to  check, 
a  despotism  may  be  the  evil  arising  from  the  want  of  it.  At 
present  America  is  thinly  peopled,  but  let  them  look  forward  to 
the  time  when  the  population  shall  become  denser;  what  will 
then  be  the  effect?  why  a  division  between  the  rich  and  the  poor 
will  naturally  take  place;  and  what  is  that  but  the  foundation  if 
not  the  formation  of  an  aristocracy.  An  American  cannot  entail 
his  estate,  but  he  can  leave  the  whole  of  it  to  his  eldest  son  if  he 
pleases;  and,  in  a  few  years,  the  lands  which  have  been  pur- 
chased for  a  trifle,  will  become  the  foundation  of  noble  fortunes;* 

*  "At  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of  the  English  in  Virginia, 
when  land  was  to  be  had  for  little  or  nothing,  some  provident  persons 
having  obtained  large  grants  of  it,  and  being  desirous  of  maintaining 
the  splendor  of  their  families,  entailed  tlieir  property  on  their  descend- 
ants.  The  transmission  of  these  estates  from  generation  to  generation, 
to  men  who  bore  the  same  name,  had  the  effect  of  raising  up  a  distinct 
class  of  families,  who,  possessing  by  law  the  privilege  of  perpetuating 
their  wealth,  formed  by  these  means  a  sort  of  patrician  order,  distin- 
guished  by  the  grandeur  and  luxury  of  their  establishments.  From 
this  order  it  was  that  the  king  usually  chose  his  councillors  of  state. 

"In  the  United  States,  the  principal  clauses  of  the  English  law  re. 
specting  descent  have  been  universally  rejected.  Tiie  first  rule  that 
we  follow,  says  Mr.  Kent,  touching  inheritance  is  the  following:— If 
a  man  dies  intestate,  his  property  goes  to  his  heirs  in  a  direct  line.  If 
he  has  but  one  heir  or  heiress,  he  or  she  succeeds  to  the  whole.  If 
there  are  several  heirs  of  the  same  degree,  they  divide  the  inheritance 
equally  amongst  them,  without  distinction  of  sex. 

"This  rule  was  prescribed  for  the  first  time  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  by  a  statute  of  the  23d  of  February,  1786.  {See  Revised  Sta- 
tuteSf  vol.  iii,*  Appendix,  p.  48.)  It  has  since  been  adopted  in  the 
revised  statutes  of  tiie  same  State.  At  the  present  day  this  law  holds 
good  throughout  the  whole  of  the  United  States,  with  the  exception  of 
the  State  of  Vermont,  where  the  male  heir  inherits  a  double  portion. 
Kent's  Commentaries,  vol.  iv.  p.  370.  Mr.  Kent,  in  the  same  work, 
vol.  iv.  p.  1 — 22,  gives  an  historical  account  of  American  legislation 
on  the  subject  of  entail;  by  this  we  learn  that  previous  to  the  revolu- 
tion the  colonies  followed  the  English  law  of  entail.  Estates  tail  were 
abolished  in  Virginia  in  1776,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Jefferson.  They  were 
suppressed  in  New  York  in  1786;  and  have  since  been  abolished  in 
North  Carolina,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Georgia  and  Missouri.  In 
Vermont,  Indiana,  Illinois,  South  Carolina  and  Louisiana,  entail  was 


MARRY AT's  DIARV. 


155 


hut  even  now  their  law  of  non-entail  does  not  work  as  they  would 
wish. 

M:  Tocquevillo  says — 

"The  laws  of  the  United  States  are  extremely  favorahle  to 
the  division  of  property;  hut  a  cause  which  is  more  powerful 
than  the  laws,  prevents  property  from  heing  divided  to  excess.* 
This  is  very  perceptihle  in  the  States  which  are  bejrinninjj  to  he 
thickly  peopled.  Massachusetts  is  the  most  populous  part  of  the 
Union,  but  it  contains  only  eighty  inhabitants  to  the  square  mile, 
which  is  much  less  than  in  France,  where  a  hundred  and  sixty- 
two  are  reckoned  to  the  same  extent  of  country.  But  in  Massa- 
chusetts estates  are  very  rarely  divided;  the  eldest  son  takes  the 
land,  and  the  others  go  to  seek  their  fortune  in  the  desert.  The 
law  has  abolished  the  rightsofprimogenittire,  but  circumstances 
have  concurred  to  re-establish  it  under  a  form  of  which  none  can 
complain,  and  by  which  no  just  rights  are  impaired." 

And  Chancellor  Kent,  in  his  "Treatise  upon  American  Law," 
observes — 

"  It  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  division  of  landed  estates  must 
produce  great  evils  when  it  is  carried  to  such  excess  as  that 
each  parcel  of  land  is  insufficient  to  support  a  family;  but  these 
disadvantages  have  never  been  felt  in  the  United  States,  and 
many  generations  must  elapse  before  they  can  be  felt.  The  extent 
of  our  inhabited  territory,  the  abundance  of  adjacent  land,  and 
the  continual  stream  of  emigration  flowing  from  the  shores  of  the 
Atlantic  towards  the  interior  of  the  country,  suffice  as  yet,  and 
will  long  suffice,  to  prevent  the  parcelling  out  of  estates." 

never  introduced.  Those  States  which  thought  proper  to  preserve  the 
Enghsh  law  of  entail,  modified  it  in  such  a  way  as  tu  deprive  it  of  its 
most  aristocratic  tendencies.  '  Our  general  principles  on  the  subject 
of  government,*  says  Mr.  Kent,  '  tend  to  favor  the  free  circulation  of 
property. 

•'  It  cannot  fail  to  strike  the  French  reader  who  studies  the  law  of 
inheritance,  that  m  tlicsc  questions,  the  French  legislation  is  infinitely 
more  democratic  even  than  the  American. 

"The  American  law  makes  an  equal  division  of  the  father's  pro- 
perty, but  only  in  the  case  of  his  will  not  being  known,  •  For  every 
man,'  says  the  law,  •  in  the  State  of  New  York,  {Revised  Statutes,  vol. 
iii.,  Appendix,  p.  51,)  has  entire  liberty,  power  and  authority,  to  dis- 
pose of  his  property  by  will,  to  leave  it  entire,  or  divided  in  favor  of 
any  persons  he  chooses  as  his  heirs,  provided  he  do  not  leave  it  to  a 
political  body  or  any  corporation.'  The  French  law  obliges  the  tes- 
tator to  divide  his  properly  equally,  or  nearly  so,  among  his  heirs. 

"  Most  of  the  American  republics  still  admit  of  entails,  under  cer- 
tain restrictions;  but  the  French  law  prohibits  entail  in  all  cases. 

"  If  the  social  condition  of  the  Americans  is  more  democratic  than 
that  of  the  French,  llie  laws  of  the  latter  are  the  most  democratic  of 
the  two.  This  may  be  explained  more  easily  than  at  first  appears  to 
be  the  case.  In  France,  democracy  is  still  occupied  in  the  work  of 
destruction;  in  America,  it  reigns  quietly  over  the  ruins  it  has  made.'* 
— Democracy  in  America,  by  A.  De  Tocqueville, 

*  In  New  England  the  estates  are  exceedingly  small,  but  they  are 
rarely  subjected  to  further  division. 


1 


156 


MARRY  AT  8  DIARV. 


m : ' 


Thorn  is,  tliorororo,  no  want  of  prppanition  for  an  aristopracv 
in  America,  and,  altlioiijrii  at  prcncnt  llir  rich  arc  so  tniicli  in  tlio 
minority  that  tlioy  cannot  coalesce,  such  will  not  he  the  cane, 
perhaps,  in  twenty  or  thirty  years;  they  Jiave  hut  to  rally  and 
make  a  stand  when  lliey  heconie  more  uutneroiis  and  powerful, 
and  they  have  (;very  chance  of  aiicctiss.    'i'iio  f.jct  is,  that  an  aris- 
tocracy is  ahsolntcdy  necessary  for  America*  both  politically  and 
morally,  if  the  Americans  wish  their  instilu  tions  to  hold  tofrether, 
for  if  some  stop  is  not  nut  to  the  rapidly  advancing  power  of  tho 
people,  anarchy  must  be  the  result.     1  do  not  mean  an  aristo- 
cracy of  title;  I  mean  such  an  aristocracy  of  talent  and  power 
which  wealth  will  tfive — an  aristocracy  which  shall  lead  society 
and  purify  it.     How  is  this  to  he  obtained  in  a  democracy]  — 
simply  by  purchase.     In  a  country  where  the  suflrage  is  con- 
fined to  certain  classes,  as  in  Kngland,  such  purchase  is  not  to 
be  obrained,  as  the  people  who  have  the  right  of  suffrage  are  not 
poor  enough  to  be  bought;  but  in  a  country  like  America,  where 
the  suffrage  is  universal,  the  people  will  eventually  sell  their 
birth-right;  and  if  by  such  means  an  aristocratical  government 
is  elected,  it  will  be  able  to  amend  the  constitution,  and  pass 
what  laws  it  pleases.     This  may  appear  visionary,  but  it  has 
been  proved  already  that  it  can  be  done,  and  if  it  can  be  done 
now,  how  much  more  easily  will  it  be  accomplished  when  tho 
population  has  quadrupled,  and  the  division  commences  between 
the  rich  and  the  poor.     I  say  it  has  been  done  already,  for  it  was 
done  at  the  last  New  York  election.     The  democratic  party 
made  sure  of  success:  but  a  large  sum  of  money  was  brought 
into  play,  and  the  whole  of  ihe  committees  of  the  democratic  party 
were  bought  over,  and  the  Whigs  carried  the  day. 

The  greatest  security  for  the  duration  of  the  present  institu- 
tions of  the  United  States  is  the  establishment  of  an  aristocracy. 
It  is  the  third  power  which  was  intended  to  act,  but  which  has 
been  destroyed  and  is  now  wanting.  Let  the  senate  be  aristo- 
cratical— let  the  congress  be  partially  so,  and  then  what  would 
be  the  American  government  of  president,  senate,  and  congress, 
but  mutato  nomine^  kings,  lords,  and  commons? 

I  cannot,  perhaps,  find  a  better  opportunity  than  of  pointing 
out  what  ought  to  be  made  known  to  the  English,  as  it  has  done 
more  harm  to  the  American  aristocracy  than  may  be  imagined 
I  refer  to  the  carelessness  and  facility  with  which  letters  of  in- 
troduction to  this  country  are  given,  and  particularly  by  the 
American  authorities.  I  have  drawn  the  character  of  Bennett, 
the  editor  of  the  Morning  Herald  of  New  York,  and  there  is  not 
a  respectable  American  but  will  acknowledge  that  my  sketch  of 
him  is  correct;  will  it  not  surprise  the  English  readers  when  I 
inform  them  that  this  man  obtained  admittance  to  Westminster 
Hall  at  the  coronation,  and  was  seated  among  the  proudest  and 
purest  of  our  nobility! !  Such  was  the  fact.  Bui  it  will  be  as 
well  to  revert  back  a  little  to  what  has  passed. 

During  the  time  that  England  was  at  war  with  nearly  the 
whole  of  Europe,  the  Americans  were  to  a  great  degree  iso- 
lated and  unknown,  except  as  carriers  of  merhcandize  under  the 


MARRY  AT  S    DIARY. 


157 


nciutral  f\»ff',  but  tlxy  wcro  rnpidly  advanriiifr  in  iinportdiirc  and 
wealth.  At  tlio  cdiiclijsidn  ot' the  luKt  Aiiuricari  wiir,  durinjf  which, 
by  tlicir  rosnhilo  aiitJ  occasionally  nuccr8sful  hifriig'fifirs,  tlii'v  had  drawn 
tJH!  fycs  of  Kuropj  towards  IIkmii,  and  hid  advanccHJ  many  (!('})r(!(:8  in 
the  jTfMicral  c'&tiin  ition  of  thoir  iinpurtunco  as  a  nation,  the*  Americans 
occnHionally  mado  their  a|)|»carance  as  travellers,  both  on  thet'ontincnt 
and  in  Mnyland  ;  but  they  found  thai  they  were  not  ho  well  received 
as  their  own  ideas  of  their  iinporlance  induced  thcni  to  imagine  they 
were  entitled  to  be;  especially  on  Ihe  Continent. 

The  first  {rreat  personage  who  shewed  liberality  in  tins  respect,  was 
(ieorge  the  Fourth.  Hearing  that  sonic  American  ladies  of  good 
tiimily  had  eoniplaincd  that,  having  no  titles,  no  standing  in  society 
they  did  not  meet  with  that  civility  to  which,  from  descent  and  educu 
tioii,  they  were  entitled,  he  received  them  at  Court  most  graciously 
and  those  very  ladies  arc  new  classed  anmng  the  peeresses  of  (ireat 
Britain.  Still  the  ditUculty  remained,  as  it  was  almost  impossible  for 
the  aristocracy,  abroad  or  at  home,  to  ascertain  the  justness  of  the 
claims  which  were  made  by  those  of  a  nation  who  professed  theequali- 
ty  of  all  classes,  and  of  whom  many  of  the  pretenders  to  be  well  re- 
ceived did  not  by  their  appearance  warrant  the  supposition  that  their 
claims  were  valid.  It  being  impossible  to  give  any  other  rank  but  that 
of  office,  tlw!  American  Government  hit  upon  a  plan  which  was  at- 
tended with  very  evil  consequences.  They  granted  supernumerary 
a ttac he -Hh\\ia  to  those  Americans  who  wished  to  travel ;  and  as,  on  the 
Old  Continent,  the  very  circumstance  of  being  an  attache  to  a  foreign 
minister  warranted  the  respectability  of  the  party,  those  who  obtained 
this  distinction  were  well  received,  and,  unfortunately,  sometimes  did 
no  credit  to  their  appointments.  'I'he  fact  was  that  these  favours  were 
granted  without  discrimination,  and  all  who  received  them  being  put 
down  a«  specimens  of  American  gentlemen,  thecharacter  of  the  Ameri- 
cans lost  ground  by  the  very  eflbrts  made  to  establish  it.  The  true 
American  gentlemen  who  travelled  (and  there  is  no  lack  of  them) 
were  supposed  to  be  English,  while  the  spurious  were  put  down  as 
samples  of  the  gentility  of  the  United  States. 

That  the  principles  of  equality  were  one  great  cause  of  the  indis- 
criminate distribution  of  those  marks  of  distinction  by  the  highest 
(juarters  in  the  Union,  and  of  the  ficility  of  obtaining  letters  of  recom- 
mendation from  them  there  is  no  doubt;  but  the  principal  and  still  ex- 
isting causes,  are  the  extended  and  domineering  power  of  the  press, 
and  the  high  state  of  excitement  of  the  political  parties.  Those  in 
power  are  positively  afraid  to  refuse  literary  men,  or  those  who  have 
assisted  them  in  their  political  career  ;  they  have  not  the  moral  cou- 
rage to  do  so,  however  undeserving  the  parties  may  really  be.  But, 
as  is  generally  the  case,  they  really  do  not  knov\r  the  parties ;  it  is  suf- 
ficient that  the  favour,  considered  trifling,  is  demanded,  and  it  is  in« 

14 


•I 
I 


^1 


I        i 


;i  ' 


^■1 

■if 


.1 


158 


MARRYAT  S   DIARY. 


'h'-:! 


:  •  I- 


li  .i 


J     '■}. 


?l 


stantly  granted.  Now,  as  at  the  ncccs^sion  of  General  Jackson,  and 
the  subsequent  raising  of  Mr.  Van  Buren  to  t!io  prcsideney,  the  demo- 
cratical,  or  Loco  Foco  party  came  into  power,  it  is  to  their  friends  and 
Bupporters  the  least  respectable  portion  of  the  American  community, 
to  whom  these  favours  have  been  granted ;  whicli  of  course  has  not 
assisted  the  claims  of  the  Americans  to  respectability.  An  instance 
of  this  sort  occurred  to  me  after  I  had  been  a  <ew  months  in  America. 
One  of  the  most  gentleman-like  and  well-informed  men  in  New  York, 
requested  that  I  would  give  a  letter  of  introduction  to  a  friend  of  his 
who  was  going  to  England.  Taking  it  for  granted  that  such  a  request 
would  not  be  made  without  the  party  deserving  the  recommendation, 
I  immediately  assented.  The  party  who  obtained  my  letters  (an  editor 
of  a  paper,  as  I  afterwards  discovered),  on  his  arrival  in  England, 
considering  that  he  was  not  treated  with  that  attention  to  which,  in 
his  own  vain-gloriousncss,  he  thought  himself  entitled,  actually  sent  u 
hostile  letter  to  one  of  the  gentlemen  to  whom  he  had  been  introduced, 
and  otherwise  proved  himself  by  his  conduct  to  be  a  most  improper 
person.  I  was  informed  of  this  by  letters  from  England;  and  imme- 
diately went  to  the  gentleman  who  had  rc<jiiested  the  introduction  from 
me,  and  stated  the  conduct  of  the  party.  "  I  really  am  very  sorry," 
said  he,  "  but  /knew  nothing  of  hiu)."  "  Knew  nothing  of  him  '/" 
replied  I.  "  No,  indeed  ;  but  my  friend  Mr.  C,  of  Philadelphia, 
introduced  him  by  letter,  and  requested  me  to  ask  for  introductions 
for  him."  "  Tnen  you  will  oblige  me  by  writing  to  your 
friend  Mr.  C.  and  ask  him  why  he  did  so,  as  I  find  myself 
very  much  compromised  by  this  affair."  He  wrote  to  Mr.  C, 
of  Philadelj-hia,  who  replied  that  he  was  very  sorry,  but  that  really  he 
knew  nothing  of  him.  He  had  been  introduced  to  him  by  letter,  by 
Mr.  O.,  and  that  he  was  a  staunch  supporter  of  their  party.  Now,  how 
many  grades  this  person  had  climbed  up  by  letters  of  introduction  it  is 
impossible  to  say,  bi*  this  is  sufficient  to  prove  that  letters  of  introduc- 
tion which  are,  you  may  say,  demanded,  and  not  refused  from  the  fear 
of  offending  a  political  agent  or  penny-a-liner,  must  ever  be  received 
with  due  caution  ;  and  it  is  equally  certain,  that  those  from  the  Presi- 
dent himself  are  the  most  easy  to  be  obtained. 

I  have  entered  freely  into  this  question,  as  it  is  important  that  it 
should  be  known,  not  only  to  the  English,  but  tlic  Americans  them- 
selves. A  letter  of  introduction  from  a  gentleman  of  Carolina,  Vir- 
ginia, or  Boston,  I  should  be  infinitely  more  induced  to  take  notice  of 
than  from  the  President  of  the  United  States,  unless  the  President  stated 
that  he  was  personally  acquainted  with  the  party  who  delivered  it;  and 
I  make  this  statement  in  justice  to  the  American  gentlemen,  and  not 
with  the  slightest  wish  to  check  that  intercourse  which  will  every  day 
increase,  and,  I  trust,  to  the  advantage  of  both  nations.* 

^  •  It  may  also  be  here  obs-irveil,  that  the  Americans  have  Ihtle  opportunity  of 


, 


.1 


31).     f      M     . 


kson,  and 
the  demo, 
lends  and 
ntmunity, 
B  has  not 
1  instance 
I  America, 
ew  York, 
;nd  of  his 
I  a  request 
icndation, 
(an  editor 

England, 
which,  in 
lly  sent  u 
titroduced, 

improper 
nd  inmic- 
ction  from 
•y  sorry," 
of  him  :■"' 
iladelphia, 
reductions 

to  your 
d  myself 
J  Mr.  C, 
t  really  he 

letter,  by 
^ow,  how 
tction  it  is 

introduc- 
n  the  fear 
received 
he  Presi- 

nt  that  it 
Eins  them- 
olina,  Vir- 
3  notice  of 
ent  stated 
;d  it;  and 
,  and  not 
every  day 


r. 


MARRYAT  S    DIARY. 


159 


Indeed,  now  that  snch  rapid  communication  has  taken  place  between 
the  two  countries,  since  the  Atlantic  has  been  traversed  by  steam,  it  be- 
comes more  imperative  that  these  facts  should  be  known.  Every  fort- 
night a  hundred  and  sixty  passengers  will  arrive  by  the  Great  Western, 
or  some  other  steamer.  Mostofihem  are  American  citizens,  armed 
with  their  letters  of  recommendation,  and  the  situation  of  the  Ameri- 
can minister  has  become  one  of  peculiar  difficulty. 

By  one  steam-packet  alone  he  has  had  seventy-five  people,  or  families, 
with  letters  of  introduction  to  him,  mostly  obtained  by  the  means  which 
I  have  described ;  and  there  is  not  one  of  these  parties  who  docs  not 
expect  as  much  attention  as  if  the  American  minister  had  nothing 
else  to  do  but  to  be  at  his  command.     They  leave  their  cards  with 
him  ;  if  the  cards  are  not  returned  in  two  or  three  days,  they  send  a 
\ol\cr  to  know  why  he  has  not  called  upon  them?  and  if  the  visit  is 
returned,  send  a  letter  to  know  whether  the  minister  called  in  persoUy 
or  not?     With  a  stipend  from  his  own  government,  quite  inadequate 
to  the  purpose,  he  is  expected,  to  the  great  detriment  of  his  private  for- 
tune, to  receive  and  entertain  all  these  people.     I  have  it  from  the  best 
authority,  that  some  of  these  parties  have  called  and  inquired  whether 
the  minister  was  at  home ;  being  answered  in  the  negative,  they  have 
gone  intD^  room,  taken  a  chair,  and  declared  their  determination  not 
to  leave  the  house  until  they  had  seen  bini.     Most  of  them  expect  him 
to  obtain  admittance  for  them  into  the  Houses  of  Lords  and  Commons, 
and  to  present  them  at  Court.     In  some  instances,  when  the  minister 
has  stated  the  necessity  of  a  Court  dresa^  they  have  remonstrated, 
thinking  it  an  expense  wholly  unnecessary.     "They  were  American 
citizens^  and  would  be  introduced  as  such  ;  they  had  nothing  to  do 
with  Court  dresses,  and  all  that  nonsense."     And  thus,  since  the  steam- 
vessels  have  increased  the  communication  between  the  two  countries, 
has  the  American  minister  been  in  a  state  of  annoyance,  to  which  it  is 
impossible  that  he,  or  any  other  who  may  be  appointed  in  his  place, 
can  possibly  submit. 

Let  the  Americans  understand,  that  those  only  go  to  Court  in  this 
country  who  have  claims,  as  the  nobility,  the  oldest  commoners,  people 
in  otfice,  the  army  and  navy,  and  other  liberal  professions.  There  are 
thousands  of  families  in  England,  by  descent,  fortune,  and  education, 
very  superior  to  those  of  America,  who  never  think  of  going  to  Court, 
being  aware  that  such  is  not  their  sphere ;  and  yet  every  American 
who  comes  over  here  witii  four  or  five  introductions   in  his  pocket 

judging  favourably  of  the  English  by  the  usual  importations  to  their  country. 
They  all  call  themselves  English  gentlemen,  and  are  too  often  supposed  to  be, 
»U(I  are  received  as  such.  1  have  often  been  told  that  I  should  meet  with  an 
Enelishman  or  an  tCnglish  merchant,  and  the  parlies  mostly  proved  to  be 
nothing  but  travellers,  bagsmen,  or  even  worse.  If  the  sterling  American^  slay 
at  home,  and  send  the  bad  ones  to  uts,  and  we  do  the  same,  neither  parly  will 
bi)  likely  to  form  a  very  favourable  oplnioa  olthe  other  lor  some  time  to  come. 


) 


I 


h  j  I 


1' 


I 


■  u\'- 


.     i  . 


160 


MARRY AT  S    DIARY. 


"*.'; 


]  i 


M 


must,  forsooth,  be  presented.  If  the  minister  refuses,  why  then  there 
is  an  attack  upon  liiin  in  the  American  prints,  and  his  name  and  his 
supposed  misdemeanors  are  bandied  about  from  one  end  of  the  Union 
to  the  other.  It  is  hardly  credible  to  what  a  state  of  slavery  they 
would  reduce  the  American  representative.  One  man  says, "  I  under- 
stand  I  can  have  a  Court  dress  at  a  cloathes  shop."  "  Yes,  you  can, 
I  believe."  "  Well,  now,  sup|K)se  we  step  down  togctlicr ;  you  may 
cheapen  it  a  bit  for  me,  may  be."  These  facts  are  known  to  the  re- 
spectable and  g'entlemim-likc  Americans,  who,  after  the  samples  which 
have  come  over,  and  have  obtained  admission  into  society  and  gone  tu 
Court,  will  not  shew  themselves,  but  prefer  to  stay  at  home. 

All  this  is  wrong,  and  a  renicdy  must  soon  be  found,  as  the  evil  in- 
creases  every  day.  'J'he  Amcrienns  cannot  take  the  English  (■oiirt  by 
storm,  or  torce  us  to  acknowledge  their  eqiality  in  this  country. 
There  are  but  certain  classes  in  this  country  who  Ijavo  any  i)refension 
to  be  received  at  Court ;  and  unless  the  Americans  can  |)rove  that  they 
are  by  their  situation,  or  descent,  of  a  suftieient  rank  to  qualify  them 
to  be  admitted,  they  must  be  content  to  be  excluded,  as  the  major  por- 
tion  of  our  countrymcm  are.  Even  an  American  being  a  member  of 
Congress  docs  not  qualify  him,  altiiough  being  a  member  of  the  Senate 
certainly  should.  The  members  of  the  American  Congress  are  not  in 
the  mass  equal  by  any  means  in  respectability  to  the  members  of  the 
English  House  of  Commons ;  and  there  have  been  many  members  of 
the  English  Ho  jse  of  Commons,  since  the  passing  of  the  Reform  Jiill, 
who  could  not,  and  cannot,  gain  admittance  into  society. 

If  the  harmony  and  good  feeling  between  the  two  countries  is  to 
continue  uninterrupted,  and  our  intercourse  to  be  extended,  as  there  is 
every  probability  that  it  will  be,  it  appears  to  me  that  there  is  more 
importance  to  be  attached  to  this  question  than  ai  the  first  view  of  it 
might  be  supposed.  The  Americans  are  more  ambitious  of  birth  and 
aristocracy  ttian  any  other  nation,  vhich  is  vtry  natural,  if  it  were  only 
from  the  simple  fact  that  we  always  most  desire  what  is  out  of  our 
reach.  Since  the  Americans  have  come  over  in  such  numbers  to  this 
country,  our  Herald's  OHiee  has  actually  been  Itesie^edhy  them,  in  their 
anxiety  to  take  out  the  arms  and  achievments  of  their  presumed  forefii- 
thers  ;  this  is  also  very  natural  and  proper,  although  it  may  be  at  variance 
with  their  institutions.  'I'he  determination  to  have  an  aristocracy  in 
America  gains  head  every  day  :  a  conflict  nmst  ensue,  when  the  increase 
rf  wealth  in  the  country  adds  sufficiently  to  the  strength  of  the  parly. 
But  some  line  must  be  drawn  in  this  country,  as  to  the  admission  of 
Americans  to  the  English  Court,  or,  if  not  drawn,  it  will  end  in  a  total, 
and  therefore  unjust  exclusion.  As  but  iavf  of  the  Americans  can 
claim  any  right  to  aristocracy  in  their  own  country  from  acknow- 
ledged descent,  I  should  not  be  suprised  if  in  a  few  years,  now  that  the 
two  countries  are  becoming  so  intimately  connected,  a  reception  at  the 


MARRTAT  S   DIARY. 


161 


H 


Enerlish  Court  of  this  country  be  considered  as  an  establishment  of 
their  claim.  If  so,  it  will  be  a  curious  anomaly  in  the  history  of  a 
republic,  that,  fifty  years  after  it  was  established,  the  republicans  should 
apply  to  the  mother  country  whose  institutions  they  had  abjured,  to 
obtain  from  her  a  patent  of  superiority,  so  as  to  raise  themselves  above 
that  hated  equality  which,  by  their  own  institutions,  they  {»ofess. 


(CHAPTER  XV. 


GOVERNMENT. 


It  is  not  my  intention  to  enter  into  a  lengthened  examination  of  the 
American  form  of  government.  I  have  said  that,  as  a  government» 
"with  all  its  imperfections,  it  is  tlie  best  suited  to  the  present  condition 
of  America,  in  so  far  as  it  is  the  one  under  which  the  country  has  made, 
and  will  continue  to  make, the  most  rapid  strides  ;"  but  I  have  not  said 
that  it  was  a  tetter  form  of  government  than  others.  Its  very  weakness 
is  favourable  to  the  advance  of  the  country  ;  it  may  be  compared  to  a 
vessel  which,  from  her  masts  not  being  wedged,  and  her  timbers  being 
loose,  sails  faster  than  one  more  securely  fastened.  Considered  merely  as 
governments  for  the  preservation  of  order  and  the  equalization  of 
pressure  upon  the  people,  I  believe  that  few  governments  are  bad,  as 
there  are  always  some  correcting  influences,  moral  or  otherwise,  which 
strengthen  those  portions  which  are  the  weakest.  A  despot,  for  in- 
f^tancc,  although  his  power  is  acknowledged  and  submitted  to,  will  not 
exercise  tyranny  to  »  fir,  from  the  fear  of  assassination. 

I  have  inserted  in  an  Appendix  the  Form  of  the  American  Consti- 
tution,  and  if  my  readers  wish  to  examine  more  closely  into  it,  I  must 
refer  them  to  M.  Tocqueville's  excellent  work.  The  first  point 
which  mast  strike  the  reader  who  exaniines  into  it  is,  that  it  is  ex- 
ircmely  complicated.  It  is,  and  it  is  not.  It  is  so  far  complicated 
that  a  variety  of  wheels  are  at  work  ;  but  it  is  not  complicated,  from 
the  circumstance  tliat  the  same  principle  prevails  throughout,  from  the 
Township  to  the  Federal  Head,  and  that  it  is  put  in  motion  by  one 
great  aiul  universal  propelling  power.  It  may  be  compared  to  a  cot- 
ton-thread manufactcry,  in  which  thousands  and  thousands  of  reels  and 
spindles  are  all  at  work,  the  labour  of  so  many  smaller  reels  turned 
over  to  larger,  which  in  their  turn  yield  up  their  ^>^oduce,  until  the 
whole  is  collected  into  one  mass.  The  principle  of  the  American  Gov- 
ernment is  good;  the  p  iwer  that  puts  it  in  motion  is  enormous,  and 

14* 


i!     ' 


:|! 


163 


MARRYAT  S   DIARY. 


\M- 


therefore,  like  the  complicated  machinery  I  have  compared  rt  to,  it  re- 
quires constant  attention,  and  proper  regulation  of  the  propelling  pow- 
er, that  it  may  not  become  out  of  order.  The  propelling  power  is  the 
sovereignty  of  the  people,  otherwise  the  will  of  the  majority.  The 
motion  of  all  propelling  powers  must  be  regulated  by  a  fly-wheel,  or 
corrective  check,  if  not,  the  motion  will  gradually  accelerate,  until  tlie 
machinery  is  destroyed  by  the  increase  of  friction.  But  there  are 
other  causes  by  which  the  machinery  n)ay  be  deranged  ;  as,  although 
the  smaller  portions  of  the  macliine,  if  defective,  may  at  any  time  be 
taken  out  and  repaired  without  its  being  necessary  for  the  machine  to 
stop ;  yet  if  the  larger  wheels  arc  by  chance  thrown  out  of  their  equi- 
librium, the  machinery  may  be  destroyed  just  as  it  would  be  by  a  loo 
rapid  motion,  occasioned  by  the  excess  of  propelling  power.  Further, 
there  are  external  causes  which  may  endanger  it :  and  the  machine  may 
be  thrown  out  of  its  level  by  a  convulsion,  or  shock,  which  will  cause 
it  to  cease  working,  if  even  it  does  not  break  it  into  fragments. 

Now,  the  dangers  which  threaten  the  United  States  are,  the  Federal 
Government  being  still  weaker  than  it  is  at  present,  or  its  becoming, 
as  it  may  from  circumstances,  too  powerful. 

The  present  situation  of  the  American  Government  is  that  the  fly- 
wheel, or  regulator  of  the  propellinji;'  power  (that  is  to  say  the  aristoc- 
racy, or  power  of  the  senate,)  has  been  nearly  destroyed,  and  tlie  con- 
sequences are  that  the  motion  is  at  this  moment  too  much  accelerated, 
and  threatens  in  a  few  years  to  increase  its  rapidity,  at  the  risk  of  the 
destruction  of  the  whole  machinery. 

But,  although  it  will  be  necessary  t(»  point  out  the  weakness  of  the 
Federal  Government,  when  opposed  to  the  States  or  the  majority,  inas- 
much as  the  morality  of  the  people  is  seriously  affected  by  this  weak- 
ness, my  object  is  not  to  enter  into  the  merits  of  the  government  of 
the  United  States  as  a  working  government,  but  to  enquire  how  far  tlie 
Americans  are  correct  in  their  boast  of  its  being  a  model  for  other 
countries. 

Let  us  considir  what  is  the  best  form  of  government..  Certainly 
that  which  most  contribut(\s  to  security  of  life  and  property,  and  ren- 
ders those  happy  and  moral  who  are  submitted  to  it.  This  1  believe 
will  be  generally  acknowledged,  and  it  is  upon  these  grounds  tlmt  the 
government  of  the  United  States  must  be  tested.  They  abjured  our 
monarchy,  and  left  their  country  for  a  distant  land,  to  obtain  freedom. 
They  railed  at  tlie  vices  and  imperfections  of  continental  rule,  and  pro- 
posed to  themselves  a  government  which  should  be  perfect,  under 
which  every  mun  should  have  his  due  weight  in  the  representation, 
and  prove  to  the  world  that  a  people  could  govern  themselves.  Dis- 
gusted with  the  immorality  of  the  age  and  the  disregard  to  religion, 
they  anticipated  an  amendment  in  the  state  of  society.  This  new, 
and  supposed  perfect,  machinery  has  been  working  for  upwards  of 


■f 


MARRY  AT  S    DIARY. 


163 


sixty  years,  and  let  us  now  examine  Iiovv  far  the  theory  has  been  sup- 
ported and  borne  out  by  the  practical  result. 

I  must  first  remind  the  reader  Ihut  I  have  already  shewn  the  weak- 
ness of  the  Federal  Government  upon  one  most  important  point,  wfiich 
is,  that  there  is  not  sutVieient  security  fur  person  and  property.  \\  hen 
such  is  the  case,  thi.re  caimot  be  that  adequate  punishment  for  vice  so 
ne.-essary  to  uphold  the  morals  of  a  people.  I  will  now  proceed  to 
prove  tlie  weakness  of  the  Federal  Government  whenever  it  has  to 
combat  with  the  several  States,  or  with  the  will  of  the  majority. 

It  will  be  ])erceived,  by  an  examination  into  the  C^onstitution  of  the 
Ignited  States,  that  the  States  have  reserved  for  themselves  all  the  real 
power,  and  that  the  Federal  Union  exists  but  upon  their  surt'erance. — 
Eiieli  State  still  insists  iipon  its  riirht  to  witlidr.iw  itsell' *ioin  the  Union 
whenever  it  pleases,  and  the  consequence  of  this  riirht  is,  that  in  every 
eontliet  with  a  State,  Ihe  Fideriil  Governnient  has  invariably  to  suc- 
comb.  i\l.  Tofqneville  observes,  "  If  the  sovereijrnty  of  the  Union 
were  to  en^a(;e  in  a  strup^'le  vvitli  that  of  the  States,  at  its  present  day, 
itfl  (k'ieat  may  be  confidently  i)redieted ;  and  it  is  not  probable  that 
HUf'li  a  strngtrle  would  be  serio\isIy  undertaken.  As  often  as  a  steady 
resistance  is  offered  to  the  Federal  (jrovernment,  it  will  be  lound  to 
yield.  Kxperienee  has  hitherto  shuvvn  that  whenever  a  State  has  de- 
miiiided  ;in^  thin;if  willi  per3<;veranee  and  resolution,  it  has  invariably 
sueeteucd  ;  and  that  if  a  separate  trovernment  has  distinctly  refused  to 
act,  it  was  left  to  do  as  it  thoujlit  tit.* 

"  ihit  even  it" the  ifovermnent  of  the  Union  had  any  strength  inhe- 
rent ill  ilsi  It"  the  physical  situation  r)f  the  country  would  render  the 
exercise  of  that  strength  very  ditficult.t  The  United  States  cover  an 
immense  territory ;  they  are  separated  from  each  other  by  great  dis- 
tances: and  the  population  is  disseminated  over  the  surface  of  a  coun- 
try which  is  still  half  a  wilderness.  If  the  I  'nion  were  to  undertake 
to  enforce  the  allegiance  of  the  confederate  States  by  military  means, 
it  would  be  in  a  position  very  analagous  to  that  ot  England  at  the  time 
of  the  War  of  liidependen;H\" 

The  Federal  (ioveniment  never  displayed  more  weakness  than  in 
the  ([uestion  of  the  tariff  put  upon  JOnglish  goods  to  support  the  manu- 
facturers of  the  Northern  States.  The  Southern  States,  as  producers 
and  exporters,  complained  of  tlii;5  as  prejudicial  to  their  interests. 
South  Carolina,  one  of  the  smallest  States,  led  the  van,  and  the  storm 


i . 


k\.l 


">i 


•f 


*  Soe  'he  conduct  of  itie  Nnrtliern  Slates  in  the  war  of  lsi-2.  "  Diirin?  that 
war."  siiys  Jetlbrson  in  a  lotter  to  General  l^iifiyi'tic,  "fmir  of  tlie  Kaslern 
Slates  were  only  alliicUtd  to  tiic  Union,  like  sj  many  inaniniaic  bodies  to  living 
men." 

t  The  prof  uind  peace  of  the  Union  aHorils  no  pretext  for  a  standinir  army  ; 
and  whhoul  a  staiulins  army  a  covernnmet  is  not  prepared  lo  profit  by  a  fa- 
vouratile  opportunity  to  comiuer  resistance,  and  lake  the  sovereign  power  by 
surprise. 


;  i     I 


n     :l 


164 


MARRYAT  8   DIARY. 


rose.  This  State  passed  an  act  by  convention,  annvUing  the  Federal 
Act  of  the  tariff,  armed  her  mihtia,  and  prepared  for  war.  The  consc. 
qucnce  was  that  tiie  Federal  Government  abandoned  tiie  principle  of 
the  tariff,  but  at  the  same  time,  to  save  the  diHgracc  of  its  defeat,  it 
passed  an  act  warrantinj^  the  President  to  put  dourn  resistance  Inj  force, 
or,  in  other  words,  making  the  Union  compulsory.  South  Carolina 
annulled  this  law  of  the  Federal  Government,  but  as  the  State  gained 
its  point  by  the  Federal  Government  having  abandoned  the  princi])lc  of 
the  tarifl",  the  matter  ended. 

Another  instance  in  which  the  Federal  Government  showed  its 
weakness  when  opposed  to  a  State,  was  in  its  conflict  with  Georgia. 
The  Federal  Government  had  entered  into  a  solemn,  und  what  ought 
to  have  been  an  inviolable  treaty,  with  the  Cherokee  Indi  ms,  securing 
to  them  the  remnant  of  their  lands  in  the  State  of  Georgia.  The 
seventh  Article  of  lli.it  treaty  says,  "  The  United  Stales  solemnly 
guarantee  to  the  Cherokee  nation  all  their  lands  not  hitherto  ceded."' 
The  State  of  Georgia,  when  its  population  increased,  did  not  like  the 
Indians  to  remain,  and  insisted  upon  their  removal.  What  was  the 
result  ? — that  the  Federal  (Jovcrnment,  in  violation  of  a  solemn  treaty 
and  the  national  honour,  submitted  to  the  dictation  of  Georgia,  and  the 
Indians  were  removed  to  the  other  side  of  the  Mississippi. 

These  instances  are  sufficient  to  prove  the  weakness  of  the  Federal 
Government  wl.en  opposed  to  the  Slates;  it  is  still  weaker  wlicn  op- 
posed to  the  will  of  the  majority.  1  have  already  quoted  many  in- 
stances of  the  exercise  of  this  uncontrolled  wi.l.  I  do  not  refer  to 
Lynch  law,  or  the  reckless  nmrders  in  the  Southern  States,  but  to  the 
riots  in  the  most  civilized  cities,  such  as  Boston,  New  York,  and  Balti. 
more,  in  which  outrages  and  murders  have  been  committed  without 
the  Government  ever  presuming  to  punish  the  perpetrators ;  but  the 
strongest  evidence  of  the  helplessness  of  the  Government,  when  opposed 
to  the  majority,  has  been  in  liie  late  Canadian  troubhs,  which,  1  fear, 
have  only  for  the  season  subsided.  If  many  have  doubts  of  the  sin- 
cerity of  the  President  of  the  United  States  in  his  attempts  to  prevent 
the  interference  of  the  Amorieans,  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that 
General  Scott,  Major  Worth,  and  the  other  American  officers  sent  to 
the  frontiers,  did  their  utmost  to  prevent  the  excesses  which  were  com- 
rnittcd,  and  to  allay  the  excilcnwnt ;  and  every  one  is  aware  how  un- 
availing were  their  efi'orts.  The  magazines  were  broken  open,  the 
field-pieces  and  muskets  taken  possession  of;  large  subscriptions  of 
money  poured  in  from  every  (piartcr ;  farmers  sent  waggon-loads  of 
pigs,  corn,  and  buffalos,  to  support  the  insurgents.  No  one  would,  in- 
deed no  one  could,  act  against  the  will  of  the  majority,  and  these  offi- 
cers found  themselves  lefl  to  their  individual  and  useless  exertions. 

The  militia  at  Detroit  were  ordered  out :  they  could  not  refuse  to 
obey  the  summons,  as  they  were  individually  liable  to  fine  and  imprir- 


MARRYAT  S   DIARY. 


165 


sonment;  but  as  they  said,  very  truly,  "You  may  cnll  ua  out,  but 
when  we  come  into  action  we  will  point  our  muskets  in  which  fiirec- 
tion  we  piciise,"  Indeed,  they  did  assist  the  insurgents  and  fire  at  our 
people;  and  when  the  insurgents  were  delcated,  one  of  tiie  drums 
wliich  they  had  with  thorn,  and  which  was  captured  by  our  troops,  was 
marked  with  the  name  of  the  militia  corps  which  had  been  called  out 
to  repel  them. 

When  the  people  are  thus  above  the  law,  it  is  of  very  little  conse- 
quence whether  the  law  is  more  or  less  weak;  at  present  the  FtdjTul 
Government  is  a  mere  cypher  wlien  o|>posc(i  by  tl)e  majority.  Have, 
then,  the  Americans  iuiproved  upon  us  in  tliis  point  .'  It  is  generally 
admitted  that  a  strong  and  vigorous  government,  which  can  act  when 
it  is  necessary  to  restrain  the  passions  of  men  under  excitement,  is 
most  favourable  to  social  order  and  happiness;  but,  on  the  ctnifrury, 
when  the  dormant  power  of  the  executive  should  be  brought  into  ac- 
tion, all  that  the  Federal  Govemmfnt  can  do  is  to  become  a  passive 
spectator  or  a  disregarded  suppliant. 


■■  I 


i 


H 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  next  question  to  be  examined  into  is,  has  this  government  of 
the  United  Slates  set  an  example  of  honour,  good,  faith  and  moral 
principle,  to  those  who  are  subjected  to  it  ? — has  it,  by  sfj  behaving, 
acted  favourably  upon  the  morals  of  the  people,  and  corrected  the  vices 
and  errors  of  the  monarchical  institations  wliich  the  Americans  hold 
up  to  such  detestation  .' 

The  Americans  may  be  said  ta  have  had,  till  within  the  last  twenty 
years,  little  or  no  relation  with  other  countries.  They  have  had  lew 
treaties  to  make,  and  very  little  diplomatic  arrangements  willj  the  old 
Continent.  But  even  if  they  had  had,  they  nmst  not  be  judged  by 
them  ;  a  certain  degree  of  national  honour  is  necessary  to  every  nation, 
if  they  would  have  the  respect  of  others,  and  a  dread  of  the  conseciuences 
would  always  compel  them  to  adhere  to  any  treaty  made  with  great 
and  powerful  countries.  The  question  is,  has  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment adhered  to  its  treaties  and  promises  made  with  and  to  those 
who  have  been  loo  weak  to  defend  themselves?  Has  it  not  repeat- 
edly, in  the  short  period  of  their  existence  as  a  nation,  violated 
the  national  honour  whenever  without  being  in  fear  of  retaliation 
or  exposure  it  has  been  able  to  do  so.  Let  this  question  be  an- 
swered by  an  examination  into  their  conduct  towards  the  unhappy  In- 
dians, who,  to  use  their  own  expression,  are  "now  melting  away  like 
suow  before  the  white  men."     We  arc  not  to  estimate  the  morality  of 


1.ii 

■U. 

■ !  ( 

',1 

! 

1 

I'M 


!  i: 


J?-  'i 


■■I , , 


•  1.* 
1  ■.* 


Ill 


ii  i  .  -'  i 


166 


MARKYAT  8    DIARY. 


a  guvernmcnt  by  \U  strict  adherence  to  its  compacts  with  tho  powerful, 
but  by  its  strict  moral  setise  ot  justice  towards  the  weak  and  defence- 
Icsh;  and  it  should  be  borne  in  mind,  thut  one  example  ofa  breach  of 
fuith  on  the  part  of  a  democratic  government,  is  more  injurious  to  the 
morals  of  the  people  under  that  government  than  a  thouaand  instances  of 
breach  of  fuilh  which  may  occur  in  soci'ty ;  for  a  people  who  have  no 
ari»tocracy  to  set  the  example,  must  naturally  look  to  the  conduct  of  their 
rulers  and  to  their  decisions,  as  a  standard  fur  their  guidance-  To 
enumerate  the  nuiltiplied  breaches  of  tiiith  towards  the  Indians  would 
swell  out  thiii  work  to  an  extra  volume.  It  was  a  bitter  sarcasm  of  the 
Scminule  chief,  who,  referring  to  the  terms  used  in  the  treaties,  told 
the  Indian  agents  that  the  white  man^a  *^for  ever'*  did  not  last  long 
(Tiough.  Even  in  its  payment  of  the  trifling  sums  for  the  lands  sold 
by  the  Indians  and  re-suld  at  an  enormous  profit,  the  American  Go* 
vernment  has  not  been  willing  to  adhere  to  its  agreement ;  and  two 
years  ago,  when  the  Indians  came  for  their  money,  the  American  Go- 
vernment told  then),  like  an  Israelite  dealer,  that  they  must  take  half 
money  and  half  goods.  The  Indians  remonstrated  ;  the  chiefs  rephed, 
"  Our  young  men  have  purchased  upon  credit,  as  they  are  wont  to  do ; 
they  require  the  dollars,  to  pay  honestly  what  they  owe." 

"  Is  our  great  father  so  |K)or  ?**  said  one  chief  to  the  Indian  egent ; 
"  I  will  lend  him  some  money  ;"  and  he  ordered  several  thousand  dol- 
lars to  be  brought,  and  oflered  them  to  the  agent. 

In  the  Florida  war,  to  which  I  shall  again  refer,  the  same  want  of 
faith  has  been  excrci.sed.  Unable  to  drive  the  Indians  out  of  their 
swamps  and  morasses,  they  have  persuaded  them  to  come  into  a  coun- 
cil, under  a  flag  of  truce.  This  Hag  of  truce  has  been  violated,  and 
the  Indians  have  been  thrown  into  prison  until  they  could  be  sent  away 
to  the  Far  West,  that  is,  if  they  survived  their  captivity,  which  the  gal- 
lant O.scenla  could  not.  Let  it  not  be  supposed  Uiat  the  officers  employed 
are  the  parties  to  blame  in  these  acts;  it  is,  generally  speaking,  the  In- 
dian agents,  who  are  employed  in  these  nefarious  transactions.  Among 
these  iigents  there  are  Many  honourable  men,  but  a  corrupt  govern- 
ment will  always  find  people  corrupt  enough  to  do  anything  it  may 
wish.  But  any  language  that  I  can  use  as  to  the  conduct  of  the 
American  Government  towards  the  Indians  would  be  light,  compared 
to  the  comments  made  in  my  presence  by  the  officer*  and  other  Ame- 
rican gentlemen  u|)on  this  subject.  Indeed,  the  indignation  expressed 
is  so  general,  that  it  proves  there  is  less  morality  in  the  Government 
than  there  is  in  the  na*.ion. 

With  the  exception  ot'  the  Florida  war,  which  still  continues,  the 
last  euntest  whieh  the  Americjin  Government  had  with  the  Indians  wus 
with  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  commanded  by  the  celebrated  chief,  Black 
Hawk.  The  Socs  and  Foxes  at  that  period  held  a  large  tract  of  land 
on  Rock  river,  in  the  U-ritory  of  loway,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Missis- 
sippi,  which  the  Government  wished,  perforce,  to  take   from   them. 


•f 


iSj: 


MARRYAT  S    DIARY. 


167 


Mwcrful, 
defence- 
>rcach  of 
18  to  the 
tances  of 
I  have  no 
;t  of  their 
ice-     To 
ins  would 
)in  of  the 
jties,  told 
last  long 
ands  sold 
ican  Go' 
and  two 
rican  Go- 
take  half 
fs  replied, 
)nt  to  do ; 

an  agent ; 
isand  dol- 

B  want  of 
t  of  their 
to  a  coun- 
ilated,  and 
sent  away 
h  the  gal- 
\  employed 
ng,  the  In- 
Among 
pt  govern- 
ng  it  may 
ict  of  the 

compared 
ither  Ame- 

expressed 
ovcrnment 

tinues,  the 
iidians  was 
hief,  Black 
ict  of  land 
the  Missis- 
rom  them. 


1 


The  following  is  Black  Hawk's  account  of  the  mean?,  by  which  this 
land  was  obtained.  The  war  was  occasioned  by  Black  Hawk  disown- 
ing the  treaty  and  attempting  to  rcpot)snss  the  territory. 

"Some  moons  after  this  young  chief  (Lit-Hlcnant  Pike)  descended  the 
Mississippi,  one  of  our  people  killed  un  Acnerican,  and  w&s  confined  in 
the  prison  at  St.  Louis  for  the  offence.  We  held  a  council  at  our  vil- 
lage to  see  >vhat  could  be  done  for  him,  which  determined  that  Quash- 
qua-me,  Pa-shc-paho,  Ou-che-qua-ha,  and  Hu-she-quar-hi-qua,  should  go 
down  to  St.  Louis,  and  see  our  American  father,  and  do  all  they  could 
to  have  uur  friend  released  ;  by  paying  lor  the  person  killed,  thus 
covering  the  bloud  and  satisfying  the  relations  of  the  man  murdered ! 
This  being  the  only  means  with  us  of  saving  u  person  who  had  killed 
another,  and  we  then  thought  it  was  the  same  way  with  the  whites. 

"  The  party  started  with  the  good  wishes  of  the  whole  nation,  hop- 
ing they  would  accomplish  the  object  of  their  mission.  I'lie  relations 
of  the  prisoner  blacked  their  faces  and  fasted,  hoping  the  Great  Spirit 
would  take  pity  on  them,  and  return  the  husband  and  the  father  to  his 
wife  and  children. 

"  Quash-qua-me  and  party  remained  a  long  time  absent.  They  at 
length  returned,  and  encamped  a  short  distance  below  the  village,  but 
d<d  not  come  up  that  day,  nor  did  any  person  approach  their  camp. 
They  appeared  to  be  dressed  in  fine  coats  and  had  medals.  Front 
these  circumstances,  we  were  in  hopes  Ihey  had  brought  us  good  news. 
Early  the  next  morning,  the  council  lodge  was  crowded;  Quash-qua- 
me  and  party  came  up,  and  gave  us  the  following  account  of  their 
mission : — 

"  On  their  arrival  at  St.  Louis,  they  met  their  American  father,  and 
explained  to  him  their  business,  and  urged  the  release  of  their  friend. 
The  American  chief  told  them  he  wanted  land,  and  they  agreed  to  give 
him  some  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  and  some  on  the  Illinois 
side,  opposite  the  JefTreon.  When  the  business  was  all  arranged,  they 
expected  to  have  their  friend  released  to  come  home  with  them.  But 
about  the  time  they  were  ready  to  start,  their  friend,  who  was  led  out 
of  prison,  ran  a  short  distance,  and  was  shot  dead.  This  is  all  they 
could  recollect  of  what  was  said  and  done.  They  had  been  drunk  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  they  were  in  St.  Louis. 

"This  is  all  myself  or  nation  knew  of  the  treaty  of  1804.  It  has 
been  explained  to  me  since.  I  find  by  that  treaty,  all  our  country 
east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  south  of  the  JefTreon,  was  ceded  to  the 
United  States  for  one  thousand  dollars  a  year !  I  will  leave  it  to  the 
people  of  the  United  States  to  say,  whether  our  nation  was  properly 
represented  in  this  treaty  ?  or  whether  we  received  a  fair  compensation 
for  the  extent  of  country  ceded  by  those  four  individuals.  I  could  say 
much  more  about  this  treaty,  but  I  will  not  at  this  time.  It  has  been 
the  origin  of  all  our  difficulties." 


I.   ,' 


r 

f    :    : 


^    I 


!] 


!  Vv 


ill 

II 


168 


MARKVAT  8    DIARV. 


tt 


r 
,1' 


Indeed,  1  have  rensoti  to  believe  lliat  tho  major  portion  of  tlic  Itind 
nblaiiied  rr«)in  the  Iiitliiiii^,  has  Imcii  ceded  by  |»ar(ies  who  bad  tio  power 
to  sell  it,  and  tiic  tri'iities  witli  tiicse  partik;*)  iiavc  been  enlbrced  by  the 
Federal  ( Joveriiineiit. 

In  II  licport  lor  tlic  protection  of  tlic  Western  Frontier,  wubniilted  to 
Conijress  by  iIk;  Secri  tary  of  War,  we  have  a  very  liiir  expose  ot"  tlie 
cundiicl  und  intentions  ol'llie  Ainericnn  (liovernnient  towarriM  the  In. 
dians.  Aillion^jli  llio  Indians  conlinnu  to  style  tbe  President  of  tlic 
T'nited  States  as  llieir  (ireat  Father,  yet,  in  this  report,  llie  Indian  feci- 
iii^  which  really  exists  towards  the  American  people  is  honestly  avowed; 
it  says  in  ils  preand)le — 

''As  yet  no  connnnnily  of  feeling',  except  of  deep  ami  hiRtinfr  hatred 
to  the  while  man,  and  particularly  to  the  Anfrlo-Aiiinirans,  exists 
anions  them,  and,  unless  they  eoa!e^ce,  no  seriouH  ditHcidty  need  be 
apprehended  from  them.  Not  so,  however,  shoidd  ihey  be  induced  to 
uuite  for  purposes  olfensive  and  delensive ;  their  strenylh  would  tlien 
become  apparent,  create  confidence,  and  in  all  probability  induce  them 
to  jrive  vent  to  their  long-suppressed  ih-sirc  to  revenge  jmst  wrovgif, 
which  is  restrained,  as  they  o[)etdy  and  freely  conless,  by  fear  alotie." 

And  speaking  of  the  feuds  between  the  tribes,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
Sioux  and  Chippewaysi,  which,  as  I  have  observed  in  my  Journal,  the 
American  Go\ernfui:ui  pretended  to  be  anxious  to  make  up;  it  appears 
that  this  anxiety  is  not  so  very  great,  for  the  Report  says — 

"  Should  it  however  prove  otherwise,  the  United  States  will,  whenever 
they  choose,  be  able  to  bring  the  whole  of  the  Sioux  force  (tho  hereditary 
and  irreclaimable  enemy  to  every  other  Indian)  to  bear  against  the 
Jiostiles;  or  vice  versa,  should  our  ditliculty  be  with  the  Sioux  nation. 
And  the  suggestion  is  made,  whether  prudence  does  not  require,  that 
those  hereditary  feelings  should  not  rather  he  maintained  than  destroyed 
by  efforts  to  cultivate  u  closer  reunion  between  them." 

This  Report  also  very  delicately  points  out,  when  speaking  of  the 
necessity  of  a  larger  force  on  the  frontier,  that  "  it  is  merely  adverted 
to  in  connexion  with  the  heavy  obligations  which  rest  upon  tiiJ?  Go- 
vernment, and  which  have  been  probably  contracted  from  time  to  '.imp, 
without  any  very  nice  calculation  of  the  means  which  would  be  neces- 
sary to  a  faithful  discharge  of  them." 

I  doubt  whether  this  Report  would  have  been  presented  by  Congress 
had  there  been  any  idea  of  its  finding  its  way  to  the  Old  Country.  By- 
and-by  I  shall  refer  to  it  again.  I  have  made  these  few  extracts  merely 
to  shew  that  expediency,  and  not  moral  feeling,  is  the  principle  alone 
which  guides  the  Federal  Government  of  the  IJnited  States. 

The  next  instance  which  I  shall  bring  forward  to  prove  the  want 
of  principle  of  the  I'ederal  Government  is  its  permitting,  and  it  may  be 
said  tacitly  acquiescing,  in  the  seizure  of  the  province  of  Texas,  and 
allowing  it  to  be  ravished  from  the  Mexican  Government,  with  whom 


,,» 


MARUYAT  S   OURY. 


1G9 


r  the  IiukI 
I  tio  pnwcr 
;cd  by  llic 

bmilUd  to 
f»8t)  ol"  the 
(Is  tlu!  Iii- 
k'lit.  ol'  the 
lulian  i'ccl- 
:ly  uvuwcd; 

'i)>rr  fifltird 
utiSy  fxist.s 
ty  need  be 
iiidueed  to 
would  tbtii 
iduce  llicin 
St  icro?'^!*, 
bar  uloiie." 
sase  of  tlic 
fourpal,  the 
;  it  appears 

1,  whenever 
!  hereditary 
against  the 
oux  nation, 
eqnire,  that 
ri  destroyed 

king  of  the 
jIv  adverted 
)on  tiiJ^  t»o- 
ime  to  -iine, 
Id  be  neces- 

iy  Congress 
ountry.  By- 
■acts  merely 
nciple  alone 

(ve  the  want 

id  it  may  he 

Texas,  and 

with  whom 


ihcy  were  on  termu  of  amity,  but  who  was  unfortunately  too  weak  to 
bel]>  herself.  In  this  instance  the  Am«'ric»n  (Joverniufnt  had  no  ex- 
cuse, as  it  actually  had  an  army  on  the  irontier,  and  could  have  oom. 
[•ellcd  the  insurgents  to  go  Imck  ;  but  no;  it  perceived  that  the  'IVxas, 
if  in  its  hands,  or  if  in(ie|)cndent  of  Mexico,  would  bcconjc  a  murt  for 
their  extra  nlave  population,  that  it  was  the  finest  country  in  the  world 
tur  producing  cotton,  and  that  it  would  be  an  immense  addition  of 
valuable  territory.  Dr.  Channing's  letter  to  Mr.  Clay  is  so  forcible  on 
this  ()ueslioii,  enters  so  fully  into  the  merits  of  the  case,  and  poinlH  out 
so  clearly  the  nefariousness  of  the  transaction,  that  I  shall  now  quote 
I  few  passages  fiom  this  best  of  American  authority.  Indeed,  I  con- 
jiider  that  this  letter  of  Dr.  Channing  is  the  principal  cause  why  the 
Xiiicrican  (Government  have  not  as  yet  admitted  Texas  into  the  I'nion. 
The  eiforis  of  the  Northern  States  would  not  have  prevented  it,  but  it 
has  actually  been  shamed  by  Dr.  Chaiming,  who  says — 

"The  United  States  have  not  been  just  to  Mexico,  Our  citizens  did 
iH)t  steal  singly,  silently,  in  disguise  into  that  land.  Their  purpose  of 
dismembering  Mexico,  and  attaching  her  distant  province  to  this  coun- 
try, was  not  wrapt  in  mystery.  It  was  proelaiiiied  in  our  [)ublic  prints. 
I'lxpcditions  were  openly  fitted  out  within  our  borders  tor  the  Texan 
war.  Troops  were  organized,  ((luipped,  and  mareiied  for  the  scene  of 
action.  Advertisements  for  volimteen-i,  to  be  enrolled  and  conducted  to 
Texas  at  the  expense  of  that  territory,  were  inserte<l  in  our  n(!wspapers. 
The  (Government,  indeed,  issued  its  proclamation,  forbidding  these 
hostile  pre^)arations;  but  this  \\  as  a  dead  letter.  Military  companies, 
with  olliccrs  and  standards,  in  defiance  ot'  proclamations,  and  in  the 
liicc  of  day,  directed  their  steps  to  the  revolted  province.  We  had, 
indeed,  an  army  near  the  frontiers  of  Mexico.  Did  it  turn  back  these 
invaders  of  a  land  with  which  we  were  at  peace  ?  On  the  contrary, 
did  not  its  presence  give  confidence  to  the  revolters  ?  At\er  this,  what 
construction  of  our  conduct  shall  we  force  on  the  world,  if  we  proceed, 
especially  at  this  mi)ii;eiit,  to  receive  into  our  Union  the  territory,  which 
through  our  neglect,  has  fallen  a  prey  to  lawless  invasion  f  Are  we 
willing  to  take  our  place  among  robber-states  .'  As  a  i)coplc  have  we 
no  selfrespect  ?  Have  we  no  reverence  lor  national  morality  '  Have 
wc  no  feeling  of  responsibility  to  other  nations,  and  to  llini  by  whom 
the  fates  of  nations  arc  disposed  ?" 

Dr.  Channing  then  proceeds : — 

"  Some  crimes  by  their  magnitude  have  a  touch  of  the  sublime;  and 
to  this  dignity  the  seizure  of  Texas  by  our  citizens  is  entitled.  Modern 
times  furnish  no  example  of  individual  rapine  on  so  grand  a  scale.  It 
is  nothing  less  than  the  robbery  of  a  realm.  The  pirate  seizes  a  ship. 
The  colonists  and  their  coadjutors  can  satisfy  thenisclves  with  nothing 
sliort  of  an  empire.  They  have  lefl  their  Anglo-Saxon  ancestors  behind 
tliem.    Those  barbarians  conformed  to  Uie  imixims  of  their  age,  to  the 

15 


I  I 


.  ^   •  ', 


ni 


1 1 


170 


marryat's  diary* 


'/  "ij 


k:<; 


rudo  code  of  nations  in  tirno  of  thickest  honthen  darknoM.  They 
invaded  Kni^land  under  tlieir  Hovcreitfnn,  and  willi  the  minction  of  the 
floomy  rchgion  of  the  North.  But  it  w  in  a  civilized  nji^c,  and  amidst 
refinementH  of  innnnerH;  it  is  auiidst  the  lights  of  scienee  and  the 
tcachin|;N  of  OhriHtiaiiity  :  nniidst  cx|H)siti()iirt  of  the  law  of  nution.s  and 
enfurcenients  of  the  law  of  universal  love;  iiinidsl  institntioiiH  of  re. 
liginn,  learning,  and  humanity,  that  the  rohhory  of  Texas  has  found 
its  instruuienlH.  It  h  from  a  free,  well  ordered,  enlightened  Christian 
country,  that  hordes  have  gnno  forth,  in  u|)on  day,  to  |N;r|)elratc  Mw 
miefily  wronff.^^ 

I  shall  conclude  my  remarks  upon  this  point  with  one  more  extract 
from  the  same  writer. 

"  A  nation,  provokiticr  wor  hy  cupidity,  by  encroachment,  and,  above 
all,  by  efforts  to  propagate  tlu!  curse  of  slavery,  is  alike  false  to  itself, 
to  God,  ond  to  the  human  race." 

Having  now  shewn  how  far  the  Federal  Oovernment  may  be  con- 
sidered as  upholding  tlie  purity  of  its  institutions  hy  the  example  of  its 
conduct  towards  others,  let  us  examine  whether  in  its  lomcstie  manage- 
incnt  it  sets  a  proper  example  to  the  nation.  It  cries  out  against  th« 
bribery  and  corruption  of  England.  Is  it  itself  free  from  this  imputa- 
tion. 

The  author  of  a  '  Voice  from  America'  observes,  "  In  such  an  un- 
authorized, unconstitutional,  and  loose  stale  of  things,  milliong  of  the 
public  money  may  be  appropriated  to  e'ectionering  and  party  purposes, 
and  to  buy  up  friemls  of  the  administration,  without  being  ojien  to 
pioof  or  liable  to  account.  It  is  a  simple  mailer  of  fact,  that  all  the 
public  funds  lost  in  this  way.  have  actually  go:\c  to  buy  up  friends  to 
the  government,  whether  the  defilcations  wi;re  matters  of  understand- 
ing between  the  powers  at  Washington  and  these  parties,  or  not. 
The  money  is  gone,  and  is  going;  and  it  goes  to  friends.  So  much 
is  true,  whatever  else  is  filse.  And  what  has  already  been  used  up  in 
this  way,  according  to  otficial  report,  is  sutfieient  to  buy  the  votes  of  a 
large  fraction  of  the  population  of  the  United  States, — that  is  to  say, 
sufficient  to  produce  an  influence  adequate  to  seeure  them.  On  the 
17th  of  January,  18.38,  the  United  States  treasurer  reiwrted  to  Con- 
gress sixty-three  defalcators  (individuals),  in  all  to  the  amount  of  up- 
wards of  a  million  of  dollars,  without  touching  the  vast  amounts  lost 
in  the  local  banks, — a  mere  beginning  of  the  end." 

As  I  have  before  observed,  when  Mr.  Adams  was  Presidsnt,  a  Mr. 
B.  Walker  was  thrown  into  prison  fur  benig  a  defaulter  to  the  extent  of 
eighteen  thousand  dollars.  Why  are  none  of  these  defaulters  to  the 
amount  of  upwards  of  a  million  of  dollars  punished  ?  If  the  govern- 
ment thinks  proper  to  allow  them  to  remain  at  liberty,  does  it  not. 
virtually  wink  at  their  dishonesty.  Neither  the  defaulters  nor  their 
■securities  arc  touched.     It  would  appear  as  if  it  were  an  understood 


li  ' 


MARKYAT  8    DIARY. 


171 


arrarijrcmcnt ;  the  jfovrrnmrnt  tcllinp  thc?c  parties,  who  linvc  arniiitcd 
thein,  **  we  cuimot  iictuully  pay  yoii  money  down  lor  your  siTvirr.M  ;  but 
wo  will  |i(il  iiioix'y  iiii'liT  your  Control,  ati>i  you  iiiuy,  if  yon  [tlnise, 
help  ynurHclf."  Wliut  has  l)ccn  the  result  of  this  coiiiliict  u|K)n 
•ocicty  / — that  ns  the  ^ovcrniiii'tit  (Ioi-h  not  consider  a  br<  ach  of  f.iilh  an 
dcittrviti},^  of  piiniNhiiicnt,  Hoeit'ty  dot's  not  Ihiuk  so  ci'hir;  und  thutt 
are  the  |hm)|>1(;  dcniorulizcd,  not  only  hy  tin  ('Xiiiii|)le  of  irovcminont  in 
its  foreign  relations,  but  by  its  leniency  towards  those  individuals  who 
arc  regardlesH  of  I'uilb  a^  the  jjovernnuiit  has  piovcd  to  he  it>i'll'. 

Indeed,  it  may  be  boldly  asserted,  that  in  every  nieasiire  taUcu  bj 
the  Federal  (iovernmcnl,  the  nu)ral  etl'eet  of  that  measure  upon  the 
people  has  never  been  thought  worthy  of  n  uiuuicul'ti  cuusidcrution. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


I 

I 

f 


I  ! 


We  must  now  examine  into  one  or  two  other  points.  The  Ameri- 
cans Cf)nsitjer  that  thuy  an^  the  only  people  on  earth  who  govern  thtm- 
selves;  they  assert  that  ic«  have  not  a  tree  juic  perfect  representation. 
We  will  luA  dispute  that  point;  the  ([ucslion  is,  not  what  the  case  in 
England  nuiy  be,  but  what  America  may  have  trained.  This  is  certain, 
that  if  they  have  not  a  free  impartial  reproentalion,  they  do  not,  an 
they  suppose,  govern  themselves.  Have  they,  with  universal  sutlVagc, 
ttbtiiined  a  repreaentation  free  from  brilury  a'sd  corruption?  If  they 
have,  they  certainly  have  gained  their  point ;  if  they  have  not  th«y 
have  Hicrificed  much,  and  have  obtained  nothing. 

By  a  calculation  which  I  nuide  at  the  time  I  was  in  the  United 
States  of  all  the  various  elections  which  took  place  atmually,  bienni- 
ally, and  at  longer  dates,  including  those  l()r  the  Federal  (jovernnient, 
the  separate  governments  of  each  State,  and  many  other  elective  of- 
fices, there  are  about  two  thou.-iaiid  five  hutidnd  elections  of  different 
descriptions  every  year ;  and  if  I  were  to  add  the  civic  elections,  which 
are  equally  political,  1  do  not  know  what  amoimt  they  would  arrive  at. 
In  this  country  we  have  on  an  average  about  two  hundred  elections 
per  annum,  so  that,  in  America,  for  thirieen  millions,  they  have  two 
thousand  ilve  hundred  elections,  and  in  England  for  twenty-seven  mil- 
lions, two  hundred,  on  the  average,  during  the  year. 

It  must,  however,  be  admitted,  that  the  major  portion  of  these 
elections  in  the  United  States  pass  off  quietly,  prot)ably  from  the  com- 
paritive  want  of  interest  excited  by  them,  and  the  continual  repetition 
which  takes  place  ;  but  when  the  important  elections  are  in  progress 
the  case  is  very  different ;  the  excitjismeot  tlien  becomes  universal ;  the 


i    I 


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4  I 


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li|i 

V-.    1. 

172 


MARRY  AT  S    DIARY. 


coming  election  is  the  theme  of  every  tonirue,  tlic  all-engrossing'  topic, 
and  nothing  else  is  listened  or  paid  attention  to. 

It  must  be  remembered,  that  the  slriigglc  in  America  is  tor  place,  not 
for  principle;  for  vvliiehever  party  obtains  power,  their  principle  of  ac- 
ting is  much  the  same.  Occasion  il!y  a  (juestion  of  moment  will  come 
forward  and  nearly  convulse  the  Union,  but  thi^  is  very  rare  ;  tl)e  ge- 
neral course  of  k'gi^liiliiti  is  in  a  veiy  narrow  compass,  and  is  seldom 
more  than  a  mere  routine  of  business,  VVith  the  majority,  who  lead 
a  party,  (parlicidarly  the  one  at  present  in  power),  Ihe  contest  is  not. 
tlicr  fore,  lor  |)iinciplc,  but,  it  may  almost  be  said,  for  bread  ;  and  this 
is  one  great  cause  of  the  virulence  accouipanyrng  their  election  strug- 
gles. 'J'hc  election  of  the  ['resident  is  of  course  the  most  important. 
M.  Toe»iuevil!e  has  well  desfribed  it,  "  For  a  long  while  before  the  ap- 
point! d  time  is  at  hand,  the  election  becomes  the  most  important  and 
the  all-eu2'roseing  topic  of  discussion.  The  iirdour  of  faction  is  re- 
doubled ;  and  all  the  artificial  j):issio:!S  which  the  imnginalion  can 
create  i.i  llie  bosom  of  a  happy  and  peaceful  land  are  agitati-d  an(i 
brought  to  light,  Tlie  President,  on  Ihe  other  hand,  is  absorlx  d  l>ytlic 
cares  of  selfldi'i'enee.  Me  no  lofiger  governs  for  the  inten  st  of  the 
State,  but  for  that  of  his  re-cleclioji ;  he  does  homage  to  the  majority, 
and  instead  of  clicekinif  its  passions,  as  his  duty  commands  him  to  do, 
lie  frequently  courts  its  worst  caprices.  As  the  election  draws  near, 
the  activity  of  intrigue  and  the  agitation  of  the  populace  increase  ;  thc 
citizens  arc  divided  into  hostile  camps,  <'ach  of  which  assumes  the 
name  ot"  its  fivmirite  caiidiilate  ;  ihc  whole  nation  glows  with  llnerisli- 
excitemeiit ;  the  election  is  the  daily  theme  of  the  public  pa|M'ps,  the 
subject  of  private  conversalion,  the  end  of  every  thought  and  everj 
action,  the  sole  int(  rest  of  tfie  prc'^ent.'' 

Of  course  the  elc^'tifins  in  llej  larijc  cities  are  those  which  next  oc- 
cupy the  public  attention.  I  havi;  before  stated, that  at  the  lastelcctioM 
in  New  York  the  coinmillees  of  the  opp((sif(,>  paitv  were  brought  over 
by  the  W'iiigs,  and  th  n  by  tliis  brib(!ry  the  election  was  gained  ;  but  I 
will  now  (piote  from  (lie  Ameiicans  ihemselves,  and  let  the  reader  then 
decide  in  which  country,  England  or  Amt;riea,  there  is  most  purity  of 
election. 

"On  the  I'llli,  lOfh,  and  1 1th  irstaiit,  a  local  election  for  tnayor  and 
v-hi'fter-ofriccrs  was  held  in  this  city.  It  resulted  in  th(!  dei'eat  of  the 
Whig  party.  The  Loco-tbeos  had  a  majority  of  about  one  thousand 
and  fifty  for  their  mayor.  Last  April  the  Wliigs  had  a  majority  of 
about  five  hundred.  'I'liere  are  seventeen  wards,  and  seventeen  polls 
were  opened.  The  out,  or  sub.'rb,  wards  presented  the  most  disgraceful 
scenes  of  riot,  fraud,  corruption,  and  pe,jury,  that  were  ever  witnessed 
in  this  or  any  other  country  on  a  similar  occasion.  The  whole  num- 
ber of  votes  polled  was  ff)rty-one  thousand  three  hundred.  It  is  a  no- 
toripus  fact,  that  there  are  not  forty  thousand  legal  voters  residing  i/> 


I 


Ill ' 


MARRY  at' S   DIARY. 


173 


the  cily.  In  the  abstract  this  election  is  but  of  little  importance.  Iti 
moral  influence  on  other  sections  of  the  country  remains  to  be  seen. 
Generally,  the  effect  of  such  a  triunDph  is  unfavuiirable  to  the  defeated 
party  in  other  places;  and  it  would  be  so  in  the  present  instance,  if  the 
conttst  had  been  an  ordinary  contest,  but  the  circuinslances  to  which  I 
have  relerrcd  of  fraud,  corruption,  and  perjury,  may,  or  may  not,  re- 
act upon  the  alleged  authors  of  these  shamt  less  proceedings." 

Again,  "The  moderate  and  thinking  men  of  both  parties — indeed, 
we  n)ay  say  every  honourable  man  who  has  been  a  sjiectator  of  recent 
events — (eel  shocked  at  the  frauds,  perjury,  and  corruption,  which  too 
evidently  enabled  the  administration  party  to  poll  so  powerful  a  vote. 
What  are  we  coming  to  in  this  country  ?     A  peaceable  contest  at  the 
polls  in  a  peaceable  test  of  party — it  is  to  ascertain  the  opinions'and 
views  of  citizens  entitled  to  vote — it  is  a  fair  and  honourable  party  ap- 
peal to  the  ballot-box.     We  are  all  Americans — living  under  the  same 
constitution  and  laws  ;  each  boasting  of  his  freedom  and  equal  rights — 
our  political  differences  are,  after  all,  the  differences  between  members 
of  the  same  national  family.     What,  therefore,  is  to  become  of  our  free- 
dom and  rights,  our  morals,  safety,  and  religion,  if  the  administration 
of  our  government  is  permitted  to  embark  in  such  open,  avowed,  pal- 
pable schemes  of  fraud  and  corruption  as  those  recpntly  exhibited  in 
this  city  ?     More  than  fine  thousand  strangers,  having  no  inferest  and 
no  domicil,  are  introduced  by  the  partisans  of  the  administration  into 
the  city,  and  brf»ught  up  to  the  polls  to  decide  who  shall  make  our 
municipal  laws      More  tiia*?  four  himdrtd  votes  over  and  above  the 
ascertained   votes   of  a  warH,  are  polled  in  such  ward.     Men  moved 
from  ward  to  ward  to  sleep  one  night  as  an  evasive  qualification.  More 
than  two  hundred  sailors,  from  United  States'  vessels  of  war,  brought 
over  to  the  city  to  vote — sloops  and  small  craf\,  trading  down  the  north 
and  east  rivers,  each  known  never  to  have  more  than  three  hands, 
turning  out  thirty  or  forty  voters  from  each  vessel.     Men  turned  from 
the  polls  for  want  of  legal  qualifications,  broujilit  back  by  administra- 
tion partisans  and   made  to  swear  in  their  vote.     Hundreds  with  the 
red  clay  of  New  Jersey  adhering  to  their  thick-soled  shoes,  presenting 
themselves  to  vote  as  citizens  of  New  York,  and  all  this  fraud  and  per- 
jury  set  on  loot  and  justified  to  enable  Mr.  Van  Buren  to  say,  '  I  have 
recovered  the  city.'     But  he  h:s  been  signally  defeated,  as  he  ought  to 
be,  notwithstanding  all  his  mighty  efforts.     'I'here  is  this  day  a  clearly 
ascertained  Whig  majority  in  this  city  offive  thousand. 

"  It  is,  therefore,  a  mockery  to  call  a  contest  with  persons  from  other 
States,  hired  for  the  occasion,  an  election.  We  must  have  a  registry  of 
mtes,  in  order  to  sweep  away  this  vast  system  of  perjury  andfrtud; 
and  every  man  who  has  an  interest  at  stake  in  his  person,  his  children, 
or  his  property,  must  demand  it  of  the  legislature,  as  the  only  means 
of  coining  to  a  fair  decision  on  all  such  matters.     This  charter  election 

15* 


a    I ' 
i   ■ 


^;| 


iJi 


I  &1 


Vi'i'V 


!•■ 


»!fe 


174 


MARRYAT  S    DIARY. 


should  open  the  eyes  of  tin;  honourable  of  all  parties  to  the  dangers  that 
menace  us,  and  a  rcdicss  |ir(n'idc'd  in  time." 

Afjain,  "  Tfic  Alias,  Moiiddij  Moniimr,  April  16,  1838 — (Triu7nphant 
Result  of  the  Election  in  i\(w  York). — We  have  rarely  known  un  elec- 
tion wljicii,  during  ils  continuance,  has  excited  so  lively  a  deg^ree  of"  in- 
terest as  h;is  been  i'clt  in  regard  to  the  contest  just  terminated  in  New 
York.  From  numerous  ([iiartcrs  we  have  received  letters  requesting 
us  to  transmit  the  carlicsl  Mitclligcncc  of  the  result,  and  an  anxiety  has 
been  evinced  among  the  Whigs  of  the  country,  which  wc  have  hardlj' 
seen  surpassed.  Tlie  trcmen(!ous  onset  of  the  Loco-fbcos  upon  the 
first  day  increased  this  anxiety,  ;ind  tears  began  to  be  entertained  thai 
the  miparalk'Ied  and  unscru[iuIons  etrorls  of  our  opponepts — their 
shameless  resort  to  every  sixcies  of  fraud,  violence,  and  corruption — 
their  imp<jrtation  of  forci<rii,  perjured  voters,  and  the  lavish  distiihvlioii 
of  the  ]iublic  monei/  might  possibly  overpower  the  legitimate  voi:;e  of  the 
majority  of  the  citizens  of  New  York.  liut  gloriously  have  these  fears 
been  dispelled.  Nobly  have  the  Whigs  of  the  great  metropolis  done 
tlieir  duly.  Gladly  does  old  Massachusetts  respond  to  their  pieans  ol 
triumph  I 

"  We  learn  from  the  New  York  papers  that  there  was  considerable 
uneasiness  in  that  city  on  Friday  among  the  Whigs  with  regard  to  the 
result.     Never  was  the  struggle  of  the  administration  party  so  despe 
rate  and  convulsive.     Hordes  of  aliens  and  illegal  voters  were  driven 
into  the  city — 

'  In  mulliliiiles  like  which  ihe  populace  NortU 
Pourc'il  iii:vcr  Hmiii  iinrfiozuii  loins,  to  pass 
KhiiiL'  or  thu  Diiimbu  ' 

"The  most  reasonable  calculation  adnwts  that  there  must  have  bocH 
at  least  four  thousand  Hlegal  votes  |)oll(  d  at  the  different  wards.  Squat- 
ters and  loafers  from  the  Crotofi  Water-Works,  from  lir<x)klyn  and 
Long  Island,  and  from  Troy  to  Sing  Sing,  took  up  tlieir  line  of  march 
for  the  doniitlid  wards,  (o  dragoon  the  eily  int(»  submission  to  Mr.  Van 
Buren.  Som(!  of  the  wards  thr(;w  from  ff)ur  hundred  (o  six  hundred 
more  votes  than  there  were  known  to  be  residents  in  them.  Donblr 
voting  was  practised  to  a  great  extent.  The  Express  says,  the  whole 
spirit  of  the  naturalization  laws  was  di  lied,  and  an  utter  mockery  wa? 
made  of  the  sacred  right  of  suffrage.  What  party  is  likely  to  be  most 
guilty  of  the.ie  things,  may  be  judged  from  the  fact,  that  the  Loco-foco 
party  resist  e eery  proposition  for  a  registry  law,  or  any  other  law  thai 
will  give  the  people  a  fair  and  honest  and  constitutional  system  of  voting." 

When  I  was  one  day  with  one  of  the  most  influential  of  the  Whig 
party  at  New  York,  he  was  talking  about  their  success  in  the  con- 
test— "  We  beat  them,  sir,  literally  with  their  own  weapons."  "  How 
so,"  replied  I.     "  Why,  sir,  we  bought  over  all  their  bludgeon  men  at 


IS^ 


MARRYAT  S    DIARY. 


175 


SO  ninny  dollars  a  head,  and  the  very  sticks  intended  to  be  used  to  keep 
us  f'loiii  tlie  ,  oil  were  employed  upon  the  lieads  of  the  Loco-locos  I'' 
So  nincli  for  purity  of  election. 

AiioUicr  point  which  is  worthy  of  inquiry  is,  how  far  is  the  rrovern- 
nient  of  the  L'liiu d  Slates  a  cheap  governmeni ;  that  is,  not  as  to  the 
amount  ot  money  ex;it  nded  in  that  country  as  cotnpared  to  the  amount 
of  money  paid  in  Enghmd  or  France,  but  cheap  as  to  the  work  done 
for  the  money  paid  ?  And,  viewing  it  in  this  light,  I  rather  think  it 
will  he  lf)urid  a  very  expensive  one.  Jt  is  true  that  the  salaries  arc 
low,  and  the  highest  ofliecrs  are  (he  worst  paid,  but  it  sliould  be  re- 
collected that  every  body  is  paid.*  The  expcnsis  of  the  Federal 
Governmeni,  shown  np  to  the  w  orld  as  a  prooi  of  cheap  goven.nicnf, 
is  but  a  portion  of  the  real  expens-es  wliich  are  paid  by  the  several 
States,  Thus  the  government  will  promulgate  to  the  world  that  they 
have  a  surplus  revenue  of  so  many  millions,  but  at  the  same  time  it 
will  be  found  that  the  States  themselves  are  borrowing  monev  and  are 
deeply  in  debt.  The  money  that  disappears  is  enormous;  1  never 
could  understand  what  has  become  of  the  boast'?d  surplus  revenue 
which  was  lodged  in  the  pet  banks,  as  they  were  termed.  The  paid 
ofiicers  in  the  several  States  are  very  numerous  ;  take,  for  instance  the 
State  of  New  York  alone.  An  American  newspaper  has  the  following 
tirticle : — 

"  The  Standing  Army. 

"The  following  is  given  in  the  Madisonian  as  the  rank  and  file  of  the 
executive  standing  army  of  office-holders  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
How  hardly  can  the  freedom  of  elections  be  maintained  against  the 
natural  enemies  of  that  freedom,  when  their  efforts  arc  seconded  by  the 
assaults  of  such  an  army  of  placemen,  whc.se  daily  bread,  under  the 
rule  and  reign  of  the  spoilers,  is  dependent  on  their  parlizan  exer- 
tions ! 

"  1880  Postmasters. 
^217  Mail  Contractors. 
59  C'erks  in  the  New  York  Post-oflicc- 
Jif)  Ijighthousc  Keepers. 
.'iOO  Custom-House  Officeis. 
"These,"  says  the  Madisonian,  "  constitute  a  regiment  of  the  King'? 


*  T  cannot  here  refrain  from  making  an  extract  from  M.  ToccnievillL's  clevirr 
work,  well  worthy  llie  atleniion  uf  itmsc  vvlio  rule  in  (Ins  country,  as  probably 
ihey  may  not  be  aware  of  wimt  they  are  doing:-  "  When  a  dcniocrulic  re[iub- 
lic  reniiers  ottices  which  had  firmerly  lieen  reniuntiiitcd  ^ratvilous,  il  may 
safely  be  believed  thai  ihe  Stale  is  uilvanci  u;  l  '  tiio?ian/iuiil  insliluii.ins ;  and 
when  a  nn)narchy  begins  to  remunerate  such  ofiicers  as  iiad  hillurtu  been  un- 
paid, il  is  a  sure  si^n  ll)al  il  is  approach  ne  towards  a  despotic  or  a  republican 
form  of  governmeni.  The  subsiiiuliun  of  paid  for  unpaid  f-nnionaricB,  is  u< 
itself,  in  my  opinion,  sutiicienl  lo  cong'.ituu  a  seriuus  revolution'' 


Jil 


i     : 


!!    il 


J'l 


176 


MARRY  AT  S    DIARY. 


own,  well  drilled  in  the  system  of  terrorism  and  seduction,  and  of  dra- 
gooning voters  !" 

And  it  should  be  remarked,  that  in  the  United  States,  upon  any  one 
party  losinir  an  eketion,  the  whole  of  that  party  in  otfiee,  even  down 
to  the  lainplitrliters,  arc  tiiriifd  nut,  anil  replaced  hy  parlizans  of  the 
succcss'ul  party  ;  capabilitij  for  office  is  iicvrr  considc  red,  tlie  only  object 
is  to  reward  political  services.  That  the  work  cannot  be  well  carried 
on  when  there  are  such  coiisfartt  changes,  attended  wilh  i'lioranceof 
the  duties  imposed,  is  most  certain,  'I'ho  loiijr  list  of  detiuilters  proves 
that  the  parly  at  present  in  power  is  supported  by  needy  and  un- 
principled men  ;  indeed,  there  is  a  waste  of  money  iti  almost  every  de- 
partment which  would  be  considered  monstrous  in  this  country.  Thr* 
expenses  of  the  Florida  war  arc  a  proof  of  this.  'I'he  best  written  ac- 
counts from  America  u'e  those  written  by  a  party  who  signs  himself 
"A  Genevese  Traveller,"  and  whose  letters  very  often  appear  in  ilie 
Times  newspaper.  1  have  invariably  observed  the  correctness  not 
only  of  his  statements  of  facts,  but  of  the  opinions  drawn  from  them. 
Speakinij  of  tin;  Florida  war,  he  has  the  following  observations: — 

"As  to  the  expenditure,  it  is  yet  more  astounding.  Not  less  than 
90,000,000  dollars  have  already  been  lavished  upon  favourites,  or 
plundered  from  the  treasury  by  marauders,  whose  profligacy  and  in- 
justice caused  the  war.  Army  contractors,  government  agents,  &c. 
arc  wallowing  in  wealth  obtained  by  the  worst  means;  and  these  are 
the  men  that  condemn  a  peace,  and  will  do  all  in  their  power  to  pro- 
duce and  keep  up  an  excitement.  But  unless  they  can  reach  the 
treasury  of  the  Utiited  States,  their  sympathy  tor  the  murdered  inhabi- 
tants will  soon  evaporate.  I  hope,  however,  and  believe  that  the  war 
for  the  present  is  at  an  end.  But  the  peace  will  only  be  temporary, 
for  the  rapacity  of  the  avaricious  land  spoculat  r  will  not  be  satisfied 
until  the  red  nian  is  deprived  of  every  acre  of  land." 

To  enter  into  any  estimate  of  expense  would  be  impossible  ;  all  I 
assert  is,  that  there  is  a  nmch  greater  waste  of  public  money  in  the 
United  Stales  than  in  other  countries,  and  that  for  the  work  done  tiiey 
pay  very  dearly.  I  shall  therefore  conclude  with  an  extract  from  M. 
Tocqueville,  who  attempts  in  vain  to  come  to  any  approximation. 

"Wherever  the  poor  direct  public  affairs,  and  dispose  of  the  national 
resources,  it  apfwars  certain,  that  as  they  profit  by  the  exi)enditure  of" 
the  State,  they  are  apt  to  augment  that  expenditure. 

"I  conclude,  therefore,  without  having  recourse  to  inaccurate  com- 
putations, and  without  hazarding  a  comparison  which  might  prove  in- 
correct, that  the  democratic  government  of  the  Americans  is  not  c 
cheap  government,  as  is  sometimes  a>  serted  ;  and  I  have  no  hesitation 
in  predicting,  that  if  tlie  people  of  the  United  States  are  ever  involved  in 
serious  difficulties,  its  taxation  will  speedily  be  increased  to  the  rate  of 
that  which  prevails  in  the  greater  pp.rt  of  the  aristocracioff  and  the 
monarchies  ot  Europe." 


MARRYAT  S   DIARY. 


177 


id  of  dru' 

any  one 
en  down 
IIS  of  the 
nly  object 
carried 
oranct!  of 
■rs  proves 

and  un- 
every  do- 
ry.     ThvT 

ritten  ac- 
i  himself 
ar  in  ilie 
tness  not 
oiii  them. 
18 : — 
less  than 
urites,  or 
y  and  in- 
dents, &.C. 
tliese  are 
2r  to  pro- 
reach  the 
ed  inhabi- 
t  the  war 
emporary, 
c  satisfied 

blc;  all  I 
ney  in  the 
done  they 
:t  from  M. 
ion. 

ic  national 
nditure  of 

irate  coin- 
t  prove  in- 
3  is  not  u 
tiesitation 
nvolved  in 
the  rate  of 
»  and  the 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


TiiK  Americans,  and  with  justice,  hold  up  Wasliiiicfion  as  one  of  the 
first  otiMf'ii,  ifso,\vliy  will  they  not  pay  attention  to  his  opinions  '  because 
lli('_//;.s7  of  men  must  not  interfere  with  their  prejudices,  or,  ii"lie(!oes, 
iie  iiiiiiic(li;it('lv  ill  tlieir  eyes  becomes  the  last.  Nevertheless,  Wash- 
injrt'U  proved  his  ability  when  he  made  the  followiri^r  observation,  in 
his  letttr  to  Chief  . Justice  Jay,  dated  iOth  of  March,  !  167  ;  even  at 
that  early  period  he  pereeived  that  the  institutions  of  Americ;;,  alt!ioui^''h 
!it  the  time  much  less  democratical  than  at  present,  would  not  stand. 
Hear  the  words  of  Wasbinijtou,  for  they  were  a  prnphrcy — 

"  Amnnjr  men  of  retleetion,  tew  will  be  found,  I  believe,  who  are 
no*  1  L'iimiiijr  to  think  that  our  system  is  belter  in  flifon/  than  In  prar- 
lice ;  and  that,  iiotwithstandinjr  the  boasted  virtue  of  America,  it  is  more 
than  prubalile  that  we  shall  exhibit  the  last  melancholy  proof,  that 
Mianl^ind  are  incompetent  to  their  own  government  initlioiit  the  means 
(if  fiU'rciim  111  the  Koniriori.^^ 

Mow,  if  you  were  to  put  this  extract  into  the  hands  of  an  American, 
his  admiration  of  VVasliin^ton  would  immediately  full  down  below 
Zero,  and  in  all  prob  ibility  he  would  say,  as  tlioy  do  of  jioor  Captain 
Lawrem  t — "Why,  sir,  W'ashinjrton  was  a  great  man,  but  threat  men 
have  their  fliilings.      I  (ruess  he  wrote  that  letter  tiftrr  dinnri y 

But  Wa-liintrton  has  been  supported  in  this  opinion  by  a  modern 
Anieiieau  patriot,  Dr.  ('banning;,  who, ass»'rtin{j  that  "  (lur  institutions 
liave  (lisiippointed  us  all,"  has  pointed  out  the  real  etfeetsof  democracy 
upon  the  morals  of  the  nation;  and  tKerc  arc  many  other  tfood  and 
lionist  m<'n  in  America  who  will  occasionally  tell  the  truth,  although 
tlicy  s(  Idom  venture  to  put  their  natnes  to  what  they  write.  lu  a 
raaiiittsto,  published  when  I  was  in  the  States,  the  following  bitter  [lills 
for  the  deiuncrats  were  inserted,  S()eakiiig  ot'  depei. deuce  on  the  vir- 
tue and  intelligrnce  of  the  people,  the  manifesto  says: — 

"  A  form  of  government  which  has  no  belter  corrective  of  public 
disorders  than  this,  is  a  i)urles(pjeon  the  reason  and  intelligence  of  men  ; 
it  is  as  inc(;uipatible  with  wisdom  as  it  is  with  public  prosperity  and 
ha])piness. 

"  'J"he  i)eo[)le  arc,  by  principle  and  the  Constitution,  guarded  against 
the  tyranny  uf  kings,  but  not  against  their  own  passions,  and  ignorance, 
fiud  delusions." 


/  <  ■ 


n.i 


<:.]:  I 
I    f 


!:!i 


i; 


iii. 


IP 

I 

■i 

I' 

% 

■■1 

m  1 


mu 


V'.f-'  1  1. 


ill 


%. 
* 


v^ 


I       r 


I 


178 


MARRY  AT  S    DIARY. 


The  necessity  of  relying^  on  some  other  power  than  tho  people  is 
therefore  enforced : 

"  Such  facts  have  induced  nations  to  abandon  the  practice  of  elec- 
ting' their  (thief  m.ijristrate  ;  prcferrinj*  to  receive  that  officer  by  here, 
ditary  succession.  Men  have  found  that  tlie  chances  of  havinsf  a  good 
chief  iniifjistrate  by  birtbj  are  about  equal  to  tlic  chances  of  obtaining 
one  by  popular  election.  And,  boast  as  we  will,  that  the  superior  intel- 
ligence  of  our  citizens  may  render  this  jjoverninent  an  exception,  time 
will  show  that  tills  is  a  inistiikc.  No  nation  can  be  an  exception,  till 
the  Ahniirhty  sfiall  chanirc  tlio  whole  character  of  in;m. 

"  It  is  a  solemn  truth,  that  when  exuculive  officers  are  dependent 
for  their  offices  on  annntil  or  frequent  elections^  there  will  be  no  impar- 
tial or  efficient  admitiis(r.itif)ii  of  the  laws. 

"  It  is  in  vaiu  that  nicn  attempt  to  disfjnise  the  truth  ;  the  fact,  be- 
yond all  debate,  is  that  tlio  disorders  in  our  political  aff.iirs  are  the 
genuine  and  natural  conse(]ntnces  of  defects  in  the  Cunstilutinn,  and  of 
the  false  and  visionary  opinions  which  Mr.  JctTurson  and  his  disciples 
have  been  procliiiinic.jr  fir  lorty  years. 

"  The  mass  of  the  people  seem  not  to  consider  that  the  affairs  of  a 
great  cornnierei.il  nation  require  for  their  correct  matugoment  talents 
of  the  first  order. 

•'Of  all  lliis,  the  7nass  of  our  pop'ilation  appear  to  know  little  or 
nothinof. 

"  The  mass  of  the  people,  seduced  and  disciplined  by  their  leaders, 
are  still  firUier  deceived,  by  bei;itr  taug^lit  that,  our  piiiilic  di-iorders  are 
to  be  ascribed  to  other  causes  tlian  the  ignorance  and  pervt-rsity  of 
their  party. 

*' And  yet  onr  citizens  ;, re  constantly  boastina  of  the  intellirrence  oj 
the  people  !  Iiitelliufi  iice  !  The  hi-tory  of'n  ilions  cannot  present  an 
example  of  such  total  vjant  of  iriteUiircnc.c  ?.»  onr  country  now  exhibits: 
and  what  is  more,  a  icaiil  of  ii;tcpit<i  is  equi'llv  sur|  risiiifj." 

Tills  is  strong  la-igua-re  to  use  in  u  republic,  btit  let  us  examine  a 
little. 

The  fjfreat  desideratum  to  be  attended  to  in  the  formation  of  a 
governmt'nl  is  to  ijuard  a'jainsl  man  peeving  upon  his  fellow-creature. 
Call  a  government  by  any  name  you  will,  prescribe  what  forms  you 
may,  the  one  great  point  to  be  adhered  to,  is  such  a  code  of  laws  as 
will  put  it  out  of  the  power  of  any  one  individind,  or  any  one  party, 
from  oppressing  anotlier.  The  despot  may  trille  with  the  lives  of  his 
people;  an  aristocracy  may  crusii  tlie  poorer  class(;s  into  a  state  of 
bondage,  and  the  poorer  classes  being  invariably  the  most  ntioKrous, 
may  resort  to  their  physical  force  to  control  tlu  s«;  who  are  wealthy,  and 
despoil  them  of  their  possessions.  Correctly  speaking,  the  struggle  is 
between  the  plebeian  and  the  patrician,  the  poor  and  the  rich,  and  <t  i* 
therefore  that  a  third  povyer  has,  by  long  experience,  be^u  considered  a$ 


m 


1 1I 


I     ■:!' 


-*^ 


le  people  is 

lice  of  dec- 
er  l)y  here- 
vinw  a  }jood 
if  nbiuining 
ip(!rior  intel- 
eption,  time 
(cuptiuri,  till 

dependent 
•2  no  impar- 

ihe  fact,  be. 
'lirs  are  the 
ilinn,  and  of 
liis  disciples 

;  affairs  of  a 
nciit  talents 

low  little  or 

Ihoir  Icadcrg, 

(li-^orderg  are 

perversity  of 

.ntelliffeme  of 
ot  present  an 
low  exhibits: 

us  examine  a 

mation  of  a 
low-creatore. 
it  forinsi  you 
de  of  laws  as 
riy  one  party, 
le  livi's  of  his 
to  a  state  of 
ist  numerous, 
I  wealthy,  and 
lie  struijglo  is 
ri'-h,  and  it :« 
considered  a$ 


^ 


marryat's  diary. 


171) 


necessary  (an  apex,  or  head  to  the  pyramid  of  society),  to  prevent  and 
check  the  disorders  which  may  arise  from  struggles  of  ambition 
unong  the  upper  classes. 

Wherever  this  apex  has  been  wanting,  there  has  been  a  continual 
■ttenipt  to  possess  it ;  whenever  it  lias  been  elective,  troubles  have  in- 
variably ensued  ;  experience  has,  therelbre,  shown  that,  for  the  benefit 
of  all  eliisses,  and  the  maintenance  of  order,  the  wis^est  plan  was  to 
make  it  hereditary.  It  is  not  to  be  denied  ihat  despotism,  when  it  falls 
into  good  hands,  has  rendered  a  nation  flourishing  and  happy,  that  an 
oligarchy  has  occasionally,  but  more  rarely,  governed  with  mildness 
and  a  regard  to  justice  ;  but  there  never  yet  was  a  case  of  a  people 
having  seized  upon  the  power,  but  the  result  has  been  one  of  rapacity 
and  violence,  until  a  master-spirit  has  sprung  up  and  controlled  them 
by  despotic  rule.  But,  although  one  despot,  or  one  oligarchy  may 
govern  well,  they  are  exceptions  to  the  general  rule;  and,  tliereforo,  in 
framing  a  government,  the  rule  by  which  yon  must  be  guided,  is  on 
the  supposition  that  each  class  will  encroach,  and  the  laws  must  be  so 
constituted  as  to  guard  against  the  vices  and  passions  of  mankind. 

To  suppose  that  a  people  can  govern  themselves,  that  is  to  say 
directly,  is  absurd.  History  has  disproved  it.  They  may  govern 
themselves  indirectly  by  selecting  from  the  mass  the  more  enlightened 
and  intelligent,  binding  themselves  to  adhere  to  their  decisions,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  putting  that  due  and  necessary  check  to  the  power  in- 
vested in  their  delegates,  which  shall  prevent  their  making  an  improper 
use  of  it.  The  great  point  to  arrive  at,  is  the  exact  measure  and  weight 
of  their  controlling  influences,  so  as  to  arrive  at  the  just  equipoise;  nor 
can  these  proportions  be  always  the  same,  but  must  be  continually 
added  to  or  reduced,  according  to  the  invcriable  progressions  or  reces- 
sions which  must  ever  take  place  in  this  world,  where  nothing  stands 
still. 

The  history  of  nations  will  shew,  that  although  the  just  balance  has 
often  been  lost,  that  if  either  the  aristocracy  or  the  ruling  power  gained 
iiny  advantage,  the  evil,  if  too  oppressive,  was  capable  of  being  cor- 
rected;  but  any  advance  gained  by  the  democratic  party,  has  never 
been  retraced,  and  that  it  has  been  by  the  preponderance  of  power 
being  til! own  into  its  h;;nds  that  nations  have  fallen.  Of  all  the  at- 
tempts at  republics,  that  of  the  Spartan,  perhaps,  is  the  mrst  worthy 
of  examination,  as  I.^curgus  went  to  work  radically,  and  his  laws 
were  such  as  to  obtain  that  equality  so  much  extolled.  How  fiir  the 
term  republic  was  applicable  to  the  Spartan  form  of  government  I  will 
not  pretend  to  say,  but  when  Lycurgus  was  called  upon  to  reconstruct 
its  legislation,  his  first  act  was  to  make  the  necessary  third  power,  and 
iie  appointed  a  senate. 

But  Lycurgus  was  wise  enough  to  perceive  that  Ire  must  amend  the 


I  ■ 

:     '» 


P: 


I.    f 


■1 


i 


n 


I  ' 


ii  ^  I 


i-  t 


I,"  '■! 


.'■  i' ' 

•,  •  1 ,  ' 

ti  ' : ; 

■'iii 

■  • 

\ 

J 

' 

1 
( 

V 


180 


MARRY  AT  S    DIARY. 


morals  of  his  countrymen,  and  that  to  preserve  an  equality  of  condition 
he  must  take  away  all  incentives  to  ambition,  or  to  the  accjuisition  of 
wealth.  He  first  divided  the  lands  into  er,'jal  jwrlions,  conipellcd  all 
classes,  from  the  kings  downwards,  to  cat  at  the  same  table,  brought 
up  nil  the  children  in  the  same  hardy  manner,  and  obli|fed  every  citizen 
after  a  certain  age  to  carry  arms.  But  more  sacrifices  were  necessary; 
Lycurgus  well  new, 

Quid  leges  sine  moribus  vano?  proficiunt. 

Horace,  Ode  24,  lib.  .3. 

To  guard  against  the  contagion  of  corruption,  he  prohibited  navi- 
S^ntioTi  and  commerce  ;  lie  permitted  no  inlercourse  v:\th  fore iirners;  he 
abolished  the  gold  and  silver  coin  as  current  money,  that  every  strinulus 
to  any  one  individual  to  exalt  himself  above  his  neighbour  should  br; 
removed.  If  ever  there  was  a  system  calcul;ittd  to  produce  eciuulily, 
it  was  that  planned  by  the  wisdom  of  Lycuryus;  but  I  doubt  if  the 
Americans  would  like  to  follow  in  his  footsteps. 

What  occasioned  the  breaking  up  and  the  downfal  of  this  republic  ? 
An  increase  of  power  given  to  the  democratic  party,  by  the  creation 
out  of  their  ranks  of  the  magistrates,  termed  L]|>liora,  which  threw  ati 
undue  weight  and  preponderance  into  the  hands  of  the  people.  \iy  this 
breach    in  the   constittition,  faction  and   corruption   were  let  in  and 
fomented.     IMutareh,  indeed,  denies  this,  but  both  Polybius  and  Aris- 
totle  are  of  a  ditierent  opinion:  the  latter  says,  that  the  power  of  tlm 
Ephori  was  so  great  as   to   amount   to  a   perfect  tyranny ;  the  kings 
themselves  were  neeesssiated  to  court  their  favour  by  such  methods  us 
greatly  to  hurl  the  constitution,  which  troni  an  aristocracy  degenerated 
into  absolute  denioeracy.     Sulon  was  called  in  to  re-model  the  consti- 
tion  of  ihe   Athenian  repulilic.      Ho   had    a  more   difficult  task  than 
Lycurgus,  and  did  not  so  well  succeed.     He  left  too  much  power  in 
the  hands  of  the  decnocracy,  the  decisions  of  the  superior  courts  being 
liable  to  appeal,  and  to  be  rescinded  by  the  nriss  of  the  people.     Ana- 
chasis,   the  Scythian  philosopher,  when  he  heard   some   points    first 
debated  in  the  Senate,  and  afterwards  debated  in  the  Assembly  of  IIk; 
people,  very  properly  observed,  that  at  Athens  "Wise  men  debated,  but 
fools  decided."     Tiie  whole  history  of  the  Athenian  republic  is,  there- 
fore, one  of  outrageous  bribe  ry  and  corruption  among  the  higher  class ; 
tyranny,  despotism,  and  injustice  on  the  part  of  the  lower,  or  majority. 
The  downfal   of  tiic   Roman   empire  uiay  equally  be  traced  to  the 
undue  weight  obtained  by  tlie  people  by  the  appointment  of  the  tribunes, 
and  so  it  vvdl  be  proved  in  almost  every  instance  :  the  reason  why  the  e.r- 
oess  of  power  is  more  destructive  wlien  in  ihe  hands  of  the  people  is,  that 
either  they,  by  retaining  the  power  in  tlieir  own  hands,  exercise  a  demo- 


MARRY  AT  ?  DIARY. 


181 


of  condition 
:(|uisitinn  of 
mipellud  all 
lie,  brought 
jvcry  citizen 
!  necessary ; 


24,  lib.  3. 

jibiteil  navi- 
reiirners;  lie 
try  str-aiulus 
jr  should  be 
lice  njuiility, 
doubt  if  the 

lis  republic ! 
tiic  creation 
icli  threw  an 
)pIo,  Hy  this 
i  lot  in  and 
us  and  Aris- 
)o\vcr  of  the 
y ;  the  kings 
methods  us 
degenerated 
L'l  the  consti- 
It  task  than 
:h  power  in 
courts  being 
?ople.     Ana- 
points    firi-l 
nd)ly  of  till! 
debated,  but 
ilic  is,  there- 
lighcr  class, 
or  majority, 
raced  to  the 
the  tribune?, 
why  the  c.x- 
(cople  is,  that 
cisc  a  demo- 


I 


I 


ralisiutT  despotism,  or  if  they  have  becomo  siilKt'iont  vorift!,  they 
sell  tlR'in.^elve.s  to  be  lyraiiniyed  over  in  their  turn. 

I  have  made  these  reniarks,  because  I  wish  to  corroborntc  fnv 
opinion,  that  '*  power  once  gained  hy  the  people  is  never  to  be 
recovered,  except  by  bribery  and  corruption,  and  that  until  then, 
every  grant  is  only  the  Ibrerunner  of  an  extension  ;  and  that  ai- 
thoujrh  the  undue  balance  of  power  of  the  higher  classes  occa- 
sionally inay  hv,  that  in  the  hands  of  the  people  is  invariably  at- 
tended by  tlie  downfall  of  the  institution. 

At  the  same  time,  I  do  not  intend  to  deny  the  right  of  the 
people  to  claim  an  extension  of  their  privileges,  in  proportion  us 
they  rise  by  education  to  the  right  of  governing  themselves; 
untbrtunately  these  privileges  have  been  given,  or  taken,  pre- 
vious to  their  being  qualified.  A  republic  is  certainly,  in  theory, 
the  most  just  form  of  government,  but,  up  to  the  present  day, 
Jiistory  has  proved  that  no  people  have  been  prepared  to  receive 
it. 

That  there  is  something  very  imposing  in  the  present  rapid 
advance  of  the  United  States,  I  grant,  but  this  grandeur  is  not 
ascribed  by  the  Americans  to  its  true  source  :  it  is  the  magnifi- 
oentand  extended  country,  not  their  government  and  institutions, 
which  has  been  the  cause  of  their  prosperity.  The  Americans 
think  otherwise,  and,  as  I  have  before  observed,  they  are  happy 
in  their  own  delusions — they  do  not  make  a  distinction  between 
what  they  have  gained  by  their  country,  and  what  they  have 
gained  by  their  institutions.  Every  thing  is  on  a  vast  and  ma<T- 
nificent  scale,  which  at  first  startles  you  ;  but  if  you  examine 
••-losely  and  reflect,  you  are  convinced  that  there  is  at  present 
more  sliow  than  substance,  and  that  the  Americans  are  actually 
"xisting  (and  until  they  have  sufficient  labourers  to  sow  and 
reap,  and  gather  up  the  riches  of  the  land,  must  continue  to 
exist)  upon  the  credit  and  capital  of  England. 

The  American  republic  was  commenced  very  differently  from 
any  other,  and  with  what  were  real  advantages,  if  she  had  not 
been  too  ambitious  and  too  precipitate  in  seizing  upon  them.  A 
republic  has  generally  been  considered  the  most  primitive  form 
of  rule ;  it  is,  on  the  contrary,  the  very  last  pitch  of  refinement 
in  government,  and  the  cause  of  its  failure  up  to  the  present  has 
been,  that  no  people  have  as  yet  been  sufficiently  enlightened 
to  govern  themselves.  Republics,  generally  speaking,  have  at 
+heir  commencement  been  confined  to  small  portions  of  territory 
having  been  formed  by  the  extension  of  townships  af\er  the  in- 
habitants liad  become  wealthy  and  ambitious.  In  America,  on 
the  contrary,  the  republic  commenced  with  unbounded  territory 
— a  vast  field  for  ambition  and  enterprise,  that  has  acted  as  a 
rmfety-valve  to  carry  off*  the  excess  of  disappointed  ambition, 
which,  like  steam,  is  continually  generating  under  such  a  form 
of  government.  And,  certainly,  if  ever  a  people  were  in  a  situ- 
ation, as  far  as  education,  knowledge,  precepts  and  lessons  for 

VOL.  II.  16 


\l 


>-\\ 


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. 

1  > 

" 

182 


MARBYVl'  H  DIAKY. 


•Wl^ 


:  i'i 


^      0 


guUhncf*  and  purity  of  mtinnera  could  onnblc  tlicm  ff*  povprn 
thernsclvos,  thoae  wuro  rio  wiiu  lirst  estubliBlied  the  Amencttn 
independence. 

Fitly  years  have  passed  away,  and  the  present  state  of  Ame- 
rica I  have  already  shown.  From  purity  ot'mnnners,  h  ,  moral 
co<le  has  sunk  below  that  of  mnst  other  nations.  She  has  at- 
tempted to  jjovern  herselt— she  is  dictated  to  by  the  worst  of 
Ivrunnics.  She  has  planted  tin?  tree  of  liberty  ;  instead  of  its 
nourishintT,  she  has  neither  freedom  of  speech  nor  of  action.  She 
has  railed  ajjainst  the  vices  of  monun  liical  forms  of  government, 
and  every  vice  u^jainst  which  she  has  raised  up  her  voice,  is  still 
more  prevalent  under  her  own.  She  has  cried  out  against  cor- 
ruption— she  is  still  more  corrupt:  against  bribery — ^lier  people 
are  to  be  bought  and  sold  :  agaiuht  tyraimy — she  is  in  fetters. 
She  has  proved  to  the  world  that,  with  every  advantage  on  her 
Bide,  the  attempt  at  a  rejniblic  has  been  a  miserable  failure,  and 
that  the  time  is  not  yet  come  when  mankind  can  govern  them- 
ijelves.     Will  it  ever  come?     In  my  opinion,  never! 

Although  the  horizon  may  be  clear  at  present,  yet  I  consider 
that  the  proj^pect  of  the  United  States  is  any  thing  but  cheering. 
It  is  true  that  tor  a  time  the  States  may  hold  together,  that  they 
may  each  year  rapidly  increase  in  prosperity  and  power,  but 
each  year  will  also  add  to  their  demorilisation  and  to  their 
danger.     It  is  impossible  to  say  from  what  quarter  of  the  com- 
pass the  clouds  may  first  rise,  or  which  of  the  several  dangers 
that  threaten  lllicm  they  will  iiave  first  to  meet  and  oppose  by 
their  energies.     At  present,  the  people,  or  majority,  have  an  un- 
due power,  which  will  yearly  increase,  and  their  despotism  will 
be  more  severe  in  proportion.    If  they  sell  their  birthright  (which 
they  will  not  do  until  the  population  is  much  increased,  and  the 
higher  classes  are  sufficiently  wealthy  to  purchase,  although 
their  freedom  will  be  lost)  they  vrill  have  a  better  chance  of 
happiness  and  social  order.     But  a  protracted  war  would  be  the 
most  fatal  to  their  institutions,  as  it  would,  in  al!  probability, 
end  in  the  dismemberment  of  the  Union,  and  the  wresting  of 
their  power  from  the  people  by  the  bayonets  of  a  dictator. 

The  removal  of  the  power  and  population  to  the  West,  the 
rapid  increase  of  the  coloured  population,  are  other  causes  of 
alarms  and  dread  ;  but,  allowing  that  all  these  dangers  are  steer- 
ed clear  of,  there  is  one  (a  more  remote  one  indeed,  but  more 
certain),  from  which  it  has  no  escape  —that  is,  the  period  when, 
from  the  increase  of  population,  the  division  shall  take  place  be- 
tween the  poor  and  the  rich,  which  no  law  against  entail  will 
ever  prevent,  and  which  must  be  fatal  to  a  democracy. 
Mr.  Sanderson,  in  his  "Sketches  of  Paris,"  observes — 
"  If  we  can  retain  our  democracy  when  our  back  woodlands 
are  filled  up;  when  New  York  and  Philadelphia  have  become 
a  lx)ndon  and  Paris :  when  the  land  shall  be  covered  with  its 
multitudes,  struggling  for  a  scanty  living,  or  with  passions  ez- 


m  1 


MARRYAT  8  DIARY. 


iHa 


mi 


citod  by  luxurious  ImbitH  am!  appetitos.  If  wc  can  then  main- 
tttin  our  universal  Hullini^o  and  our  liberty,  it  will  bn  fair  and 
reasonublo  oni)Ui,'h  in  uh  to  set  ourselves  up  for  the  nnitation  of 
others.  I^iherty,  as  tiir  as  we  yet  know  her,  is  not  lifted  to  the 
condition  of  these  populous  and  luxurious  countries.  Her  house- 
hold pods  are  of  clay,  and  her  dwellmjj  where  the  icy  gales  of 
Allecrlmny  sinij  lhrou<,'h  the  crevices  ot  her  Init." 

I  have  observed,  in  niy  introduction  to  the  first  two  volumes 
of  this  worl(,  that  our  virtues  and  our  vices  are  nminly  to  be 
traced  to  the  form  of  j^overrunent,  climate,  and  circumstances, 
and  I  think  I  can  show  that  the  vices  of  the  Americans  are 
chiefly  to  bo  attributed  to  their  present  form  of  government. 

Tlie  example  of  the  Executive  is  most  injurious.  It  is  insa- 
tiable in  its  ambition,  regardless  of  its  faith,  corrupt  in  the 
highest  degree ;  never  legislating  for  morality,  but  always  for 
expediency.  This  is  the  first  cause  of  the  low  standard  of 
morals;  the  second  is  the  want  of  an  aristocracy,  to  set  an  exam- 
ple and  give  the  tone  to  society.  These  are  followed  by  the 
errors  incident  to  the  voluntary  system  of  religion,  and  a  demo- 
cratical  education.  To  these  must  be  superadded  the  want  of 
n)oral  couraoe,  arising  from  the  dread  of  public  opinion,  and  the 
natural  tendency  of  a  deniocratic  form  of  government  to  excite 
the  spirit  of  gain,  as  the  mainspring  of  action,  and  the  summum 
bonum  of  existence. 

Dr.  Channing  observes — 

"  Our  present  civilization  is  characterized  and  tainted  by  a 
devouring  greediness  of  wealth ;  and  a  cause  which  asserts 
right  against  wealth,  nnist  stir  up  bitter  opposition,  especially 

in  cities  where  this  divinity  is  most  adored." 

"  The  {)assion  for  gain  is  every  where  sapping  pure  and  generous 
feeling,  and  everywhere  raises  up  bitter  foes  against  any  reform 
which  may  threaten  to  turn  aside  a  stream  of  wealth.  I  some- 
times feel  as  if  a  groat  social  revolution  were  necessary  to  break 
up  our  present  mercenary  civilisation,  in  order  that  Christianity, 
now  repelled  by  the  almost  universal  worldliness,  may  come  into 
new  contact  with  the  soul,  and  may  reconstruct  society  atler  its 
own  pure  and  disinterested  principles."* 

All  the  above  evils  may  be  traced  to  the  nature  of  their  insti- 
tutions ;  and  I  hold  it  as  an  axiom,  that  the  chief  end  of  govern- 
ment is  the  happiness,  social  order,  and  morality  of  the  people ; 
that  no  government,  however  perfect  in  theory,  can  be  good 
which  in  practice  demoralises  those  who  are  subjected  to  it. 
Never  was  there  a  nation  which  commenced  with  brighter  pros- 
pects ;  the  experiment  has  been  made  and  it  has  failed  ;  this  is 
not  their  fault.  They  still  retain  all  the  qualities  to  constitute 
a  great  nation,  and  a  great  nation,  or  assemblage  of  nations,  they 
will  eventually  become.     At  present,  all  is  hidden  in  a  futurity 

*  Cbanning'8  letter  to  Birney,  1837. 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


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much  too  deep  for  any  human  eye  to  penetrate  ;  they  progress 
fast  in  wealth  and  power,  and  as  their  weight  increases,  so  will 
their  speed  be  accelerated,  until  their  own  rapid  motion  will 
occasion  them  to  split  into  fragments,  each  fragment  sufficiently 
large  to  compose  a  nation  of  itself.  What  may  be  the  eventual 
result  of  this  convulsion,  what  may  be  the  destruction,  the  loss 
of  life,  the  chaotic  scenes  of  strife  and  contention,  before  the 
portions  may  again  be  restored  to  order  under  new  institutions, 
it  is  as  impossible  to  foresee  as  it  is  to  decide  upon  the  period  at 
which  it  may  take  place  ;  but  one  thing  is  certain,  that  come  it 
will,  and  that  every  hour  of  increase  of  greatness  and  prosperity 
only  adds  to  the  more  rapid  approach  of  the  danger,  and  to  the 
important  lesson  which  the  world  will  receive. 

I  have  not  written  this  book  for  the  Americans ;  they  have 
hardly  entered  my  thoughts  during  the  whole  time  that  I  have 
been  employed  upon  it,  and  I  am  perfectly  indifferent  either  to 
their  censure  or  their  praise.  I  went  over  to  America  well-in- 
clined towards  the  people,  and  anxious  to  ascertain  the  truth 
among  so  many  conflicting  opinions.  I  did  expect  to  find  them  a 
people  mo-re  virtuous  and  moral  than  our  own,  but  I  confess  on 
other  points  I  had  formed  no  opinions ;  the  results  of  my  obser- 
vations I  have  now  laid  before  the  English  public,  for  whom  only 
they  have  been  written  down.  Within  these  last  few  years, 
that  is,  since  the  passing  of  the  Reform  Bill,  we  have  made 
rapid  strides  towards  democracy,  and  the  cry  of  the  multitude  iy 
still  for  more  power,  which  our  present  rulers  appear  but  too 
willing  to  give  them.  I  consider  that  the  people  of  England 
have  already  as  much  power  as  is  consistent  with  their  happi- 
ness and  with  true  liberty,  and  that  any  increase  of  privilege 
would  be  detrimental  to  both.  My  object  in  writing  these  pages 
is,  to  point  out  the  effects  of  a  democracy  upon  the  morals,  the 
happiness,  and  the  due  apportionment  of  liberty  to  all  classes ;  to 
show  that  if,  in  the  balance  of  rights  and  privileges,  the  scale 
should  turn  on  one  side  or  the  other,  as  it  invariably  must  in  this 
world,  how  much  safer  it  is,  how  much  more  equitable  I  may 
add,  it  is  that  it  should  preponderate  in  favour  of  the  intelligent 
and  enlightened  portion  of  the  nation.  I  wish  that  the  contents 
of  these  pages  may  render  those  who  are  led  away  by  generous 
feelings,  and  abstract  ideas  of  right,  to  pause  before  they  con- 
sent to  grant  to  those  below  them  what  may  appear  to  be  a  boon, 
but  will  in  reality  prove  a  source  of  misery  and  danger  to  all 
parties — that  they  may  confirm  the  opinions  of  those  who  are 
wavering,  and  support  those  who  have  true  ideas  as  to  the  na- 
ture of  government.  If  I  have  succeeded  in  the  most  trifling 
degree  in  effecting  these  ends,  which  I  consider  vitally  import- 
ant to  the  welfare  of  this  country — if  I  have  any  way  assisted 
the  cause  of  Conservatism — I  am  content,  ard  shall  consider 
that  my  time  and  labour  have  not  been  thrown  away. 


^  l-\ 


185 


[:)     ,tl 


to 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

We,  the  people  of  the  Unitefl  States,  in  order  to  form  a  more 
perfect  union,  establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tranquillity,  pro- 
vide for  the  common  defence,  promote  the  general  welfare,  and 
secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  pofrterity,  do 
ordain  and  establish  this  Constitution  for  the  United  States  of 
America. 

Article  1. — Section  1. 

1.  All  legislative  powers  herein  granted,  shall  be  vested  in  a 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  which  shall  consist  of  a  Senate 
and  a  House  of  Representatives. 

Section  2. 

* 

1.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  be  composed  of  mem- 
bers chosen  every  second  year  by  the  people  of  the  several 
States;  and  the  electors  in  each  State  shall  have  the  qualifica- 
tions requi.site  for  electors  of  the  most  numerous  branch  of  the 
State  legislature. 

2.  No  person  shall  be  a  representative  who  shall  not  have  at- 
tained to  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  and  been  seven  yeairs  a 
citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected, 
be  an  inhabitant  of  that  State  in  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

3.  Representatives  and  direct  taxes  shall  be  apportioned 
among  the  several  States  which  may  be  included  within  this 
Union,  according  to  their  respective  numbers,  which  shall  be 
determined  by  adding  to  the  whole  number  of  free  persons,  in- 
cluding those  bound  to  service  for  a  term  of  years,  and  excludinff 
Indians  not  taxed,  three-fifths  of  all  other  persons.  The  actual 
enumeration  shall  be  made  within  three  years  after  the  first 
meeting  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  within  every 
subsequent  term  of  ten  years,  in  such  manner  as  they  shall  by 
law  direct.  The  number  of  representatives  shall  not  exceed 
one  for  every  thirty  thousand,  but  each  State  shall  have  at  least 
one  representative;  and  until  such  enumeration  shall  be  made, 
the  State  of  New  Hampshire  shall  be  entitled  to  choose  three  ; 
Massachusetts  eight;  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plantations 
one ;  Connecticut  five ;  New  York  six ;  New  Jersey  four ;  Penn- 
sylvania eight ;  Delaware  one ;  Maryland  six  ;  Virginia  ten ; 
North  Carolina  five ;  South  Carolina  five ;  and  Georgia  three. 

4.  When  vacancies  happen  in  the  representation  of  any  State, 
the  executive  authority  thereof  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to 
fill  up  such  vacancies. 

5.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  their  speaker 
and  other  oflicers,  and  shall  have  the  sole  power  of  impeachment 

Section  3. 

1.  The  Senate  of  the  United  States  shall  be  composed  of  two 

16* 


1   1 


IP 


I  i'li 


11 


186 


MARRYAT  8  DIARY. 


i  t 


\i-- 


II  ; 


Henators  from  eacli  State,  chosen  by  the  legislature  thereof,  for 
six  years  ;  and  each  senator  shall  have  one  vote. 

2.  Immediately  after  thoy  shall  be  first  assembled,  in  conse- 
qiionco  of  the  first  election,  they  shall  be  divided,  as  equally  as 
may  be,  into  three  clanses.  The  scats  of  the  senators  of  the  first 
class  shall  be  vacated  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  year ;  of 
the  second  class,  at  the  expiration  of  the  fourth  year;  and  of  the 
third  class,  at  the  expiration  of  the  sixth  year ;  so  that  one-third 
may  be  chosen  every  second  year ;  and  if  vacancies  happen,  by 
resifjnation  or  otherwise,  durini^  the  recess  of  the  legisJJature  of 
any  State,  the  executive  thereof  may  make  temporary  appoint- 
ment until  the  next  meeting  of  the  legislature,  which  shall  then 
fill  such  vacancies. 

3.  No  person  shall  be  a  senator  who  shall  not  have  attained 
to  the  age  of  thirty  years,  and  been  nine  years  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  inhabitant 
of  that  State  for  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

4.  The  Vice-President  of  the  United  States  shall  be  President 
of  the  Senate,  but  shall  have  no  vote,  unless  they  be  equally  di- 
vided. 

5.  The  Senate  shall  choose  their  other  officers,  and  also  a 
president,  pro  tempore,  in  the  absence  of  the  vice-president,  or 
when  he  shall  exercise  the  office  of  President  of  the  United 
States, 

6.  The  senate  shall  have  the  sole  power  to  try  all  impeach- 
ments. When  sitting  for  that  purpose,  they  shall  be  on  oath  or 
affirmation.  When  the  President  of  the  United  States  is  tried, 
the  chief  justice  shall  preside ;  and  no  person  shall  be  convicted 
without  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds  of  the  members  present. 

7.  Judgment  in  case  of  impeachment,  shall  not  extend  further 
than  to  removal  from  office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  and  en- 
joy any  office  of  honour,  trust,  or  profit,  under  the  United  States ; 
but  the  party  convicted  shall  nevertheless  be  liable  and  subject 
to  indictment,  trial,  judgment,  and  punishment  according  to 
law. 

Section  4. 

1.  The  times,  places,  and  manners  of  holding  elections  for 
senators  and  representatives,  shall  be  prescribed  in  each  State 
by  the  legislature  thereof,  but  the  Congress  may,  at  any  time,  by 
law,  make  or  alter  such  regulations,  except  as  to  the  places  of 
choosing  senators.  ' 

2.  The  Congress  shall  assemble  at  least  once  in  every  year, 
and  such  meeting  shall  be  on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  un- 
less they  shall  by  law  appoint  a  different  day. 

Section  5. 

1.  Each  House  shall  be  the  judge  of  the  elections,  returns, 
and  qualifications  of  its  own  members ;  and  a  majority  of  each 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


is: 


year, 
r,  un- 


shall  constitute  a  quorum  to  do  business;  but  a  smaller  number 
may  adjourn  from  day  to  day,  and  may  bo  authoritcd  to  compel 
the  attendance  of  absent  member^^  in  such  manner  and  under 
such  penalties  as  each  House  may  provide. 

2.  Each  House  may  determine  the  rules  of  its  proceedinrrg, 
punish  its  members  for  disorderly  behaviour,  and,  with  the  con- 
currence of  two-thirds,  expel  a  member. 

3.  Each  House  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  prQceedint^s,  and 
from  time  to  time  publish  the  same,  exceptinjr  such  parts  as 
may  in  their  judgment  require  secrecy;  and  the  yeas  and  nays 
of  the  members  of  either  House,  on  any  question,  shall,  at  the 
desire  of  ona-tifth  of  those  present,  be  entered  on  the  journal. 

4.  Neither  House,  during  the  session  of  Congress,  shall,  with- 
out the  consent  of  the  other,  adjourn  for  more  than  three  days, 
nor  to  any  other  place  than  that  in  which  the  two  Houses  shall 
be  sitting. 

Section  6. 

1.  The  senators  and  representatives  shall  receive  a  compen- 
sation for  their  services,  to  be  ascertained  by  Law,  and  paid  out 
of  the  treasury  of  the  United  States.  They  shall,  in  all  cases, 
except  treason,  felony,  and  breach  of  the  peace,  be  privileged 
from  arrest  during  their  attendance  at  the  session  of  their  re- 
spective houses,  and  in  going  to  or  returning  from  the  same ; 
and  for  any  speech  or  debate  in  either  House,  they  shall  not  be 
questioned  in  any  other  place. 

2.  No  senator  or  representative  shall,  during  the  time  for 
which  he  was  elected,  be  appointed  to  any  civil  office  under  the 
authority  of  the  United  States  which  shall  have  been  created, 
or  the  emoluments  whereof  shall  have  been  increased,  during 
such  time  ;  and  no  person  holding  any  office  under  the  United 
States  shall  be  a  member  of  either  House  during  his  continu- 
ance in  office. 

Section  7. 

1.  All  bills  for  raising  revenue  shall  originate  in  the  House 
of  Representatives ;  but  the  Senate  may  proje-ose  or  concur  with 
amendments,  as  on  other  bills. 

2.  Every  bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives and  the  Senate,  shall,  before  it  become  a  law,  be  pre- 
sented to  the  President  of  the  United  States ;  if  he  approve, 
he  shall  sign  it;  but  if  not,  he  shall  return  it,  with  his  objec- 
tions, to  that  House  in  which  it  shall  have  originated,  who  shall 
enter  the  objection  at  large  on  their  journal,  and  proceed  to  re- 
consider it.  If,  after  such  re-consideration,  two-thirds  of  that 
House  shall  agree  to  pass  the  bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with 
the  objections,  to  the  other  House,  by  which  it  shall  likewise 
be  re-considered,  and  if  approved  by  two-thirds  of  that  House, 
it  shall  become  a  law.  But  in  all  such  cases,  the  votes  of  both 
Houses  shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  the  names  of 


r  I 


It 


188 


MARRTAT  S  DIARY. 


m^  \ '  i 


■i.  f 


the  persons  voting  for  and  against  the  bill  shall  be  entered  on 
the  journal  of  each  House  respectively.  If  any  bill  shall  not  be 
returned  by  the  President  within  ten  days  (Sundays  excepted) 
after  it  shall  have  been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shall  be  a 
law  in  like  manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it,  unless  the  Congress, 
by  their  adjournment,  prevent  its  return,  in  which  cases  it  shall 
not  be  a  law. 

3.  Every  order,  resolution,  or  vote,  to  which  the  concurrence 
of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  may  be  necessary, 
(except  on  a  (jueslion  of  adjournment,)  shall  be  presented  to  the 
President  of  ihe  United  States ;  and  before  the  same  shall  take 
effect,  shall  be  approved  by  him,  or  being  disapproved  by  him, 
shall  be  repassed  by  two-thirds  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Re- 
presentatives, according  to  the  rules  and  limitations  prescribed 
in  the  case  of  a  bill. 

Section  8. 

The  Congress  shall  have  power — 

1.  To  lay  and  collect  taxes,  duties,  imposts,  and  excises;  to 
pay  the  debts  and  provide  for  the  common  defence  and  general 
welfare  of  the  United  States;  but  all  duties,  imposts,  and  ex- 
cises, shall  be  uniform  throughout  the  United  States. 

2.  To  borrow  money  on  the  credit  of  the  United  States. 

3.  To  regulate  commerce  with  foreign  nations,  and  among  the 
several  States,  and  with  the  Indian  tribes. 

4.  To  establish  a  uniform  rule  of  naturalisation,  and  uni- 
form laws  on  the  subject  of  bankruptcies  throughout  the  United 
States. 

5.  To  coin  money,  regulate  the  value  thereof,  and  of  foreign 
coin,  and  fix  the  standard  of  weights  and  measures. 

6.  To  provide  for  the  punishment  of  counterfeiting  the  secu- 
rities and  current  coin  of  the  United  States. 

7.  To  establish  post-offices  and  post-roads. 

8.  To  promote  the  progress  of  science  and  useful  arts,  by  se- 
curing, for  limited  times,  to  authors  and  inventors,  the  exclusive 
right  to  their  respective  writings  and  discoveries. 

9.  To  constitute  tribunals  inferior  to  the  supreme  court:  to 
define  and  punish  piracies  and  felonies  committed  on  the  high 
seas,  and  offences  against  the  law  of  nations. 

10.  To  declare  war,  grant  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal,  and 
make  rules  concerning  captures  on  land  and  water. 

11.  To  raise  and  support  armies;  but  no  appropriation  of 
money  to  that  Use  shall  be  for  a  longer  term  than  two  years. 

12.  To  provide  and  maintain  a  navy. 

13.  To  make  rules  for  the  government  and  regulation  of  the 
land  and  naval  forces. 

14.  To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  execute  the  laws 
of  the  Union,  suppress  insurrections,  and  repel  invasions. 

15.  To  provide  for  organising,  arming,  and  disciplining  the 


MARUYAT  t)  DIARY. 


189 


secu- 


rnilitia,  and  for  governing-  such  part  of  tliem  aa  may  be  em- 
ployed in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  reserving  to  the 
Suites  respectively  the  appointment  of  the  officers,  and  the 
authority  of  training  the  militia  according  to  the  discipline  pre- 
scribed by  Congress. 

16.  To  exercise  exclusive  legislation  in  all  cases  whatsoever 
over  such  district  (not  exceeding  ten  miles  square,)  as  may,  by 
cession  of  particular  States,  and  the  acceptance  of  Congress,  be- 
come the  seat  of  government  of  the  United  States,  and  to  exer- 
cise like  authority  over  all  places  purchased,  by  the  consent  of 
the  legislature  of  the  State  in  which  the  same  shall  be,  for  the 
erection  of  forts,  magazines,  arsenals,  dock-yards,  and  other 
needful  buildings ;  and, 

17.  To  make  all  laws  which  shall  be  necessary  and  proper  for 
carrying  into  execution  the  foregoing  powers,  and  all  other 
powers  vested  by  this  constitution  in  the  Government  of  the 
United  States,  or  in  any  department  or  officer  thereof. 

Section  9. 

1.  The  migration  or  importation  of  such  persons  as  any  of  the 
States  now  existing  shall  think  proper  to  admit,  shall  not  be  pro- 
hibited by  the  Congress  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  eight;  but  a  tax  or  duty  may  be  imposed  on  such  im- 
portation not  exceeding  ten  dollars  for  each  person. 

2.  The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  shall  not  be 
suspended,  unless  when,  in  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasion,  the 
public  safety  may  require  it. 

3.  No  bill  of  attainder,  or  ex  post  facto  law,  shall  be  passed. 

4.  No  capitation  or  other  direct  tax  shall  be  laid,  unless  in 
proportion  to  the  census  or  enumeration  hereinbefore  directed  to 
be  taken. 

5.  No  tax  or  duty  shall  be  laid  on  articles  exported  from  any 
State.  No  preference  shall  be  given  to  any  regulation  of  com- 
merce or  revenue  to  the  ports  of  one  State  over  those  of  another : 
nor  shall  vessels  bound  to  or  from  one  State,  be  obliged  to  enter, 
clear,  or  pay  duties  in  another. 

6.  No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  treasury,  but  in  con- 
sequence of  appropriations  made  by  law ;  and  a  regular  state- 
ment and  account  of  the  receipts  and  expenditure  of  all  public 
money  shall  be  published  from  time  to  time. 

7.  No  title  of  nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  United  States, 
and  no  person  holding  any  office  of  profit  or  trust  under  them, 
shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  Congress,  accept  of  any  present, 
emolument,  office,  or  title  of  any  kind  whatever,  tirom  any  king, 
prince,  or  foreign  state. 

Section  10. 

1.  No  State  shall  enter  into  any  treaty,  alliance,  or  confedera- 
tion   grant  letters  of  marque  or  reprisal ;   coin  money ;  emit 


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MARRTAT^S  DIART. 


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bills  of  credit;  make  any  thing  but  jroltl  and  silver  coin  a  tender 
in  ptiyment  of  debts;  ^pass  any  bill  of  attainder,  ex  post  facto 
law,  or  law  impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts ;  or  grant  any 
title  of  nobility. 

2.  No  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  Congress,  lay 
any  imposts  or  duties  on  imports  or  exports,  except  what  may  b* 
absolutely  necessary  for  executing  its  inspecting  laws ;  and  the 
neat  produce  of  all  duties  and  imposts  laid  by  any  state  on  im- 
ports or  exports,  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the  treasury  of  the 
United  States,  and  all  such  laws  shall  be  subject  to  the  revision 
and  control  of  ihe  Congress.  No  state  shall,  without  the  con- 
sent of  Congress,  lay  any  duty  of  tonnage,  keep  troops  or  ships 
of  war  in  time  of  peace,  enter  into  any  agreement  or  compact 
with  another  Stale,  or  with  a  foreign  power,  or  engage  in  war, 
unless  actually  invaded,  or  in  such  imminent  danger  as  will  not 
admit  of  delay. 

Article  2. — Section  1. 

1.  The  executive  power  shall  be  vested  in  a  President  of  the 
United  States  of  America.  He  shall  hold  his  office  during  the 
term  of  four  years,  and  together  with  the  Vice-President,  cho- 
sen for  the  same  term,  be  elected  as  follows : 

2.  Each  State  shall  appoint,  in  such  manner  as  the  legisla- 
ture thereof  may  direct,  a  number  of  electors  equal  to  the  whole 
number  of  senators  and  representatives  to  which  the  State  may 
be  entitled  in  the  Congress;  but  no  senator  or  representative,  or 
person  holding  any  office  of  trust  or  profit  under  the  United 
States,  shall  be  appointed  an  elector. 

3.  The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States,  and  vote 
by  ballot  for  two  persons,  of  whom  one  at  least  shall  not  be  an 
inhabitant  of  the  same  State  with  themselves.  And  they  shall 
make  a  list  of  all  the  persons  voted  for,  and  of  the  number  of 
votes  for  each  ;  which  list  they  shall  sign  and  certify,  and  trans- 
mit sealed  to  the  seat  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States, 
directed  to  the  President  of  the  Senate.  The  President  of  the 
Senate  shall,  in  the  presence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Re- 
presentatives, open  all  the  certificates,  and  the  votes  shall  then 
be  counted.  The  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes 
shall  be  President,  if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole 
number  of  electors  appointed ;  and  if  there  be  more  than  one 
who  have  such  a  majority,  and  have  an  equal  number  of 
votes,  then  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  immediately 
choose,  by  ballot,  one  of  them  for  President ;  and  if  no  person 
have  a  majority,  then,  from  the  five  highest  on  the  list,  the  said 
House  shall,  in  like  manner,  choose  the  President.  But,  in 
choosing  the  President,  the  votes  shall  be  taken  by  States,  the 
representation  from  each  State  having  one  vote ;  a  quorum  for 
this  purpose  shall  consist  of  a  member  or  members  from  two- 
thirds  of  the  States,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  States  shall  be 


MARRYAT  S  DURT. 


191 


necessary  to  a  choice.  In  every  case,  after  the  choice  of  the 
President,  the  person  having  the  greatest  nuinher  of  votes  of  the 
electors,  shall  be  the  Vice-Presiilent.  But  if  tl«.ere  should  re- 
main two  or  more  who  have  equal  votes',  the  Senate  shall 
choose  from  them,  by  ballot,  the  Vice-President. 

4.  The  Congress  may  determine  the  time  of  choosing  the 
electors,  and  the  day  on  which  they  shall  give  their  votes ; 
which  day  shall  be  the  same  throughout  the  United  States. 

5.  No  person,  except  a  natural-born  citizen,  or  a  citizen  of 
the  United  States  at  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  this  Constitu- 
tion, shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  President:  neither  shall 
any  person  be  eligible  to  that  office  who  shall  not  have  attained 
to  the  age  of  thirty-five  years,  and  been  fourteen  years  a  resident 
within  the  United  Stales. 

6.  In  case  of  the  removal  of  the  President  from  office,  or  of 
his  death,  resignation,  or  inability  to  discharge  the  powers  and 
duties  of  the  said  office,  the  same  shall  devolve  on  the  Vice- 
President,  and  the  Congress  may,  by  law,  provide  for  the  case 
of  removal,  death,  resignation,  or  inability,  both  of  the  President 
and  Vice-President,  declaring  what  officer  shall  then  act  as 
President,  and  such  officer  shall  act  accordingly,  until  the  disa- 
bility be  removed,  or  a  President  shall  be  elected. 

7.  The  President  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive  for  his  ser- 
vices a  compensation,  which  shall  neither  be  increased  nor  di- 
minished during  the  period  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected, 
and  he  shall  not  receive  with'n  that  period  any  other  emolument 
from  th^e  United  Slates,  or  any  of  them. 

8.  Before  he  enter  on  the  execution  of  his  office,  he  shall 
take  the  following  oath  or  affirmation : — 

9.  •'  1  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  faithfully  exe- 
cute the  office  of  President  of  the  United  States,  and  will  to  the 
best  of  my  ability,  preserve,  protect,  and  defend  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States." 

Section  2. 

1.  The  President  shall  be  coi^  i-inder-in-chief  of  the  army 
and  navy  of  the  United  States,  an«'  iS  the  militia  of  the  several 
States,  when  called  into  the  actual  service  of  the  United  States; 
he  may  require  the  opinion,  in  writing,  of  the  principal  officer 
in  each  of  the  executive  departments,  upon  any  subject  relating 
to  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices;  and  he  shall  have  power 
to  grant  reprieves  and  pardons  for  offences  against  the  United 
States,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment. 

2.  He  shall  have  power,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent 
of  the  Senate,  to  make  treaties,  provided  two-thirds  of  the  sena- 
tors present  concur:  and  he  shall  nominate, and  by  and  with  the 
advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  shall  appoint  ambassadors, 
other  public  ministers  and  consuls,  judges  of  the  supreme  court, 
and  all  other  officors  of  the  United  States,  whose  appointments 


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192 


MARRYAT  8  DIARY. 


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are  not  heroin  otherwise  provided  for,  and  which  shall  he  es- 
tahlished  by  law.  But  the  Congresti  may,  by  law,  vest  the  ap- 
pointment of  such  inferior  officers  as  they  think  proper,  in  the 
President  alone,  in  the  courts  of  law,  or  in  the  heads  of  de- 
partments. 

3.  The  President  shall  have  power  to  fill  up  all  vacancies 
that  may  happen  during  tlie  recess  of  the  Senate,  by  granting^ 
commissions  which  shall  expire  at  the  end  of  their  next  session. 

Section  3. 

1.  He  shall,  from  time  to  time,  give  to  the  Congress  informa- 
tion of  the  state  of  the  Union,  and  recommend  to  their  considera- 
tion such  measures  as  he  shall  judge  necessary  and  expedient ; 
he  may  on  extraordinary  occasions  convene  both  Houses,  or 
either  of  them,  and  in  case  of  disagreement  between  them,  with 
respect  to  the  time  of  adjournment,  he  may  adjourn  them  to  such 
time  as  he  shall  think  proper;  he  sliall  receive  amba^-sadors  and 
other  public  ministers;  he  shall  take  care  that  the  laws  be  faith- 
fully executed  ;  and  shall  commission  all  the  officers  of  the 
United  States. 

Section  4. 

1.  The  President,  Vice-President,  and  all  civil  officers  of  the 
United  States,  shall  be  removed  from  office  on  impeachment  for, 
and  conviction  of,  treason,  bribery,  or  other  crimes  and  mis- 
demeanours. 

Article  3. — Section  1. 
1.  The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  be  vested  in 
one  supreme  court,  and  in  such  inferior  courts,  as  the  Congress 
may  from  time  to  time  ordain  and  establish.  The  judges,  both 
of  the  supreme  and  inferior  courts,  shall  hold  their  offices  during 
good  behaviour;  and  shall  at  stated  times  receive  for  their  ser- 
vices a  compensation,  which  shall  not  be  diminished  during  their 
continuance  in  office. 

Section  2. 

1.  The  judicial  power  shall  extend  to  all  cases  in  law  and 
equity,  arising  under  this  Constitution,  the  laws  of  the  United 
States,  and  treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under  their 
authority ;  to  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  public  mi- 
nisters and  consuls;  to  all  cases  of  admiralty  and  maritime  juris- 
diction ;  to  controversies  to  which  the  United  States  shall  be  a 
party;  to  controversies  between  two  or  more  States;  between  a 
State  and  citizens  of  another  State;  between  citizens  of  different 
States ;  between  citizens  of  the  same  State  claiming  lands  under 
grants  of  different  States;  and  between  a  State  or  the  citizens 
thereof,  and  foreign  States,  citizens  or  subjects. 

2.  In  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers 
and  consuls,  and  those  in  which  a  State  shall  be  a  party,  the 


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MARRVAT  8  DURY. 


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»»iprcnic  court  shall  have  original  jurisdiction.  In  all  tho  other 
cnsos  before  mentioned,  the  hupreinc  conrt  whall  have  iippelliite 
jiirisdictioi.,  both  na  to  law  and  fact,  with  such  <\xceptions,  and 
under  such  regulations,  an  the  Confrrcss  shall  niako. 

3.  Tho  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  cases  of  impeachment, 
shall  be  by  jury,  and  such  trial  bhall  be  held  in  the  State  where 
the  said  crimes  shall  have  been  coirunitted  ;  but  wIumi  not  com- 
mitted within  any  State,  tho  trial  shall  be  at  such  places  as  the 
Connrress  may  by  law  have  directed. 

Section  3. 

1.  Treason  ajOfainst  the  United  States  shall  consist  only  in 
levying"  war  against  them,  or  in  adhering  to  their  enemieo, 
giving  theui  aid  and  comfort.  No  person  shall  be  convicted  of 
treason,  unless  on  tho  testimony  of  two  witnesses  to  the  same 
overt  act,  or  on  confession  in  open  court. 

2.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  declare  the  punishmenl 
of  treason ;  but  no  attainder  of  treason  shall  work  corruption  of 
blood,  or  forfeiture,  except  during  the  life  of  the  person  attainted. 

Article  4. — Section  1. 

1.  Full  faith  and  credit  shall  be  given  in  each  State  to  the 
public  acts,  records,  and  judicial  proceedings  of  every  other 
State.  And  the  Congress  may,  by  general  laws,  prescribe  the 
manner  in  which  such  acts,  records,  and  proceedings,  shall  be 
proved,  and  the  effect  thereof. 

Section  2. 

1.  The  citizens  of  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  all  privileges 
and  immunities  of  citizens  in  the  several  States. 

2.  A  person  charged  in  any  State  with  treason,  felony,  or 
other  crime,  who  shall  flee  from  justice,  and  be  found  in  another 
State,  shall,  on  demand  of  the  executive  authority  of  the  State 
from  which  he  has  fled,  be  delivered  up,  to  be  removed  to  the 
Stale  having  jurisdiction  of  the  crime. 

3.  No  person  held  to  service  or  labour  in  one  State  under  the 
laws  thereof,  escaping  to  another,  shall,  in  consequence  of 
any  law  or  regulation  therein,  be  discharged  from  such  service 
or  labour;  but  shall  be  delivered  upon  the  claim  of  the  party  to 
whom  such  service  or  labour  may  be  due. 

Section  3. 

1.  New  States  may  be  admitted  by  the  Congress  into  this 
union  but  no  new  State  shall  be  formed  or  erected  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  any  other  State,  nor  any  State  be  formed  by  the 
junction  of  two  or  more  States,  or  parts  of  States,  without  the 
consent  of  the  legislatures  of  the  States  concerned,  as  well  as  of 
the  Congress. 

2.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of,  and  make  all 

17 


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MARRVAT8   DIARY. 


I,    ) 


needful  rules  and  regulations  rcsnortinjnr,  the  territory  or  other 
property  belonginj?  to  the  United  Stiites;  and  nothin|(  in  this 
Constitution  shall  be  so  construed  as  to  prejudice  any  claims  of 
the  United  States,  or  of  any  particular  State. 

Section  4. 

1.  The  United  States  shall  guarantee  to  every  State  in  this 
Union  a  republican  tbrm  of  Govertunent,  and  shall  protect  each 
of  them  aguiubt  invasion;  and,  on  application  of  the  legislature, 
or  of  the  executive,  (when  the  legislature  cannot  be  convened) 
against  domestic  violence. 

Article  5. 

1.  The  Congress,  whenever  two-thirds  of  both  Houses  shall 
deem  it  necessary,  shall  propose  amendments  to  this  Constitu- 
tion; or,  on  the  application  of  the  legislatures  of  two-thirds  of 
the  several  States,  shall  call  a  convention  for  proposing  amend- 
ments, which,  in  either  case,  shall  be  valid  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  as  part  of  this  Constitution,  when  ratified  by  the  legis- 
latures of  three-fourths  of  the  several  States,  or  by  conventions 
of  three-fourths  thereof,  as  the  one  or  the  other  mode  of  ratifica- 
tion may  be  proposed  by  the  Congress;  provided,  that  no  amend- 
ment which  may  be  made  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  eight,  shall  in  any  manner  affect  the  first  and  fourth 
clauses  in  the  ninth  section  of  the  first  article:  that  and  no 
State,  without  its  consent,  shall  be  deprived  of  its  equal  suffrage 
in  the  Senate. 

Article  6. 

1.  All  debts  contracted  and  engagements  entered  into,  before 
the  adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  as  valid  against  the 
United  States  under  this  Constitution,  as  under  the  Confedera- 
tion. 

2.  This  Constitution,  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States  which 
shall  be  made  in  pursuance  thereof,  and  all  treaties  made,  or 
which  shall  be  made,  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States, 
shall  be  the  supreme  law  of  the  land  ;  and  the  judges  in  every 
State  shall  be  bound  thereby,  any  thing  in  the  Constitution  or 
laws  of  any  State  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

3.  The  senators  and  representatives  before  mentioned,  and 
the  members  of  the  several  State  legislatures,  and  all  executive 
and  judicial  officers,  both  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  seve- 
ral States,  shall  be  bound  by  oath  or  affirmation  to  support  this 
Constitution ;  but  no  religious  test  shall  ever  be  required  as  a 
qualification  to  any  office  or  public  trust  under  the  United 
States. 

Article  7. 

1.  The  ratifications  of  the  conventions  of  nine  States  shall  be 


MARRYAT8    DIARY. 


195 


Hiifficinnt  for  the  rstnblislimont  of  this  Constitution  between  the 
ytutca  80  ratifyiiijr  the  same. 

Done  in  Convention,  by  the  unnniniouH  consent  of  the  States 
present,  the  Hcventccnth  day  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our 
Ijonl  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven,  and  of 
the  Indopendencc  of  the  United  States  of  America,  the 
twelfth.  In  witncas  whereof  we  have  liereunto  subscribed 
our  names. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON, 
President  and  Deputy  from  Virginia. 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

John  Lanjrdon, 
Nifiholas  Gilman. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Nathaniel  Gorman, 
Rufu.s  King. 

CONNECTICUT. 

William  Samuel  Johnson, 
Roger  Sherman. 

NEW  YORK. 

Alexander  Hamilton. 

NEW  JERSEY. 

William  Livingston, 
David  Nearly, 
William  Paterson, 
Jonathan  Dayton. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Benjamin  Franklin, 
Thomas  Mifflin, 
Robert  Morris, 
George  Clymer, 
Thomas  Fitzsimons, 
Jared  IngersoU, 
James  Wilson, 
Governeur  Morris. 


DELAWARE. 

Gcorjje  Read, 
Gunning  Bedford,  jun. 
John  Dickenson, 
Richard  Btissett, 
Jacob  Broom. 

MARYLAND. 

James  M'Henry, 

Daniel  of  St.  Tho.  Jenifer, 

Daniel  Carrol. 

VIRGINIA. 

John  Blair, 

James  Madison,  jun. 

NORTH  CAROLINA. 

William  Blount, 
Richard  Dobbs  Spaight, 
Hugh  Williamson. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

John  Rutledge, 
Chas.  Cotesworth  Pinckney, 
Charles  Pinckney, 
Pierce  Butler. 

OEOROIA. 

William  Few, 
Abrahnm  Baldwin. 


Attest,        WILLIAM  JACKSON, 

Secretary, 

AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  CONSTITUTION. 

Art.  1.  Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  establish- 
ment of  religion  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof;  or 
abridging  the  freedom  of  speech  or  of  the  press ;  or  of  the  right 
of  the  people  peaceably  to  assemble,  and  to  petition  the  Govern- 
ment for  a  redress  of  grievances. 

Art.  2.  A  well  regulated  militia  being  necessary  to  the  secu- 
rity of  a  free  State,  the  right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear 
arms  shall  not  be  infringed. 

Art.  3.  No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  in  any 


,'\ 


V  f  III  II 

.'  I 

m. 


ji.li . 


196 


HARRYAT  8  DIARY. 


house  without  the  consent  of  the  owner;  nor  in  time  of  warr 
but  in  a  manner  prescribed  by  law. 

Art.  4.  The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  persons, 
houses,  papers,  and  effects,  against  unreasonable  searches  and 
seizures,  shall  not  be  violated;  and  no  warrants  shall  issue  but 
upon  probable  cause,  supported  by  oath  or  affirmation,  and  par- 
ticularly describing  the  place  to  be  se-irched,  and  the  persons  or 
things  to  be  seized 

Art.  5.  No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital  or 
otherwise  infamous  crime,  unless  on  a  presentment  or  indict- 
ment of  a  grand  jury,  except  in  cases  arising  in  the  land  or 
naval  forces,  or  in  the  militia,  v.'hen  in  actual  scv'ce,  in  time 
of  war  or  public  danger;  nor  shall  any  person  be  subject  for  the 
same  offence  to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  of  life  and  limb ;  nor 
shall  be  compelled,  in  any  criminal  case,  to  be  a  witness  against 
himself;  nor  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty  or  property,  without  due 
process  of  law  ;  nor  shall  private  property  be  taken  for  public 
use,  xvithout  just  compensation. 

Art.  6.  In  all  criminal  prosecutions  the  accused  shall  enjoy 
the  right  to  a  speedy  and  public  trial  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the 
State  and  district  wherein  the  crime  shall  have  been  committed, 
which  district  shall  have  been  previously  ascertained  by  law, 
and  to  be  informed  of  the  nature  and  cause  of  the  accusation  ; 
to  be  confronted  with  the  witnesses  against  him ;  to  have  com- 
pulsory process  for  obtaining  witnesses  in  his  favour, "and  to 
have  the  assistance  of  counsel  for  his  defence. 

Art.  7.  In  suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value  in  contro- 
versy shall  exceed  twenty  dollars,  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  shall 
be  preserved  ;  and  no  fact  tried  by  a  jury  shall  be  otherwise  re- 
examined in  any  court  of  the  United  States,  than  according  to 
the  rules  of  common  law. 

Art.  8.  Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  excessive 
fines  imposed,  nor  cruel  and  unusual  punishments  inflicted. 

Art,  9.  The  enumeration  in  the  Constitution  of  certain  rights 
shall  not  be  construed  to  deny  or  disparage  others  retained  by 
the  people. 

Art.  10.  The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States  by 
the  Constitution,  nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the  States,  are  reserved 
to  the  States  respectively,  or  to  the  people. 

Art.  11.  The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  shall  not  be 
construed  to  extend  to  any  suit  in  law  or  equity,  commenced  or 
prosecuted  against  one  of  the  United  States  by  citizens  of  ano- 
ther State,  or  by  citizens  or  subjects  of  any  foreign  State. 

Art.  12.  1.  The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States, 
and  vote  by  ballot  for  President  and  Vice-President,  one  of 
whom,  at  least,  shall  not  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  same  State  with 
themselves ;  they  irhall  name  in  their  ballots  the  person  voted  for 
as  President,  and  in  distinct  ballots  the  person  voted  for  as  Vice- 
President;  and  they  shall  make  distinct  lists  of  all  persons  voted 


1: 


MARRY AT*8  DIARY.. 


197 


of  war, 

persons, 
les  and 
ssne  but 
nd  par- 
rsons  or 

pital  or 

•  indict- 

land  or 

in  time 

for  the 

nb;  nor 
against 

loiit  due 

«•  public 

iH  enjoy 
■y  of  the 
nmittcd, 
by  law, 
usation ; 
ve  com- 
,°and  to 

I  contro* 
ury  shall 
■wise  re- 
rding  to 

xcessive 
ted. 

in  rights 
lined  by 

Jtates  by 
reserved 

II  not  be 
)nced  or 
3  of  ana- 
te. 

B  States, 
;,  one  of 
ate  with 
voted  for 
as  Vice- 
ms  voted 


for  as  President,  and  of  all  persons  voted  for  as  Vice-President, 
and  of  the  np  nber  of  votes  for  each,  which  lists  they  shall  sign 
and  certify,  and  transmit  sealed  to  the  seat  of  the  Government 
of  the  United  States,  directed  to  the  President  of  the  Senate ; 
the  President  of  the  Senate  shall,  in  the  presence  of  the  Senate 
and  House  of  Representatives,  open  all  the  certificates,  and  the 
votes  shall  then  be  counted  ;  the  person  having  the  greatest 
number  of  votes  for  President  shall  be  President,  if  such  of  the 
number  be  n  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed  : 
and  if  no  person  have  such  a  majority,  then  from  ihe  persons 
having  the  highest  numbers,  not  exceeding  three,  on  the  list  of 
those  voted  for  as  President,  the  House  of  Representatives  shall 
choose  immediately,  by  ballot,  the  President.  But,  in  choosing 
the  President,  the  votes  shall  be  taken  by  States,  the  represen- 
tation from  each  State  having  one  vote;  a  quorum  for  this  pur- 
pose shall  consist  of  a  member  or  members  from  two-thirds  of 
the  States,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  States  shall  be  necessary  to 
a  choice.  And  if  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  not  choose 
a  President  whenever  the  light  of  choice  shall  devolve  upon 
them,  before  the  fourth  day  of  March  next  following,  the  Vice- 
President  shall  act  as  President,  as  in  the  case  of  the  death,  or 
constitutional  disability  of  the  President. 

2.  The  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  as  Vice- 
President,  shall  be  the  Vice-President,  if  such  number  be  a  ma- 
jority of  the  whole  number  of  electors  appointed ;  and  if  no  per- 
son have  a  majority,  then  from  the  two  highest  numbers  on  the 
list,  the  Senate  shall  choose  the  Vice-President :  a  quorum  for 
the  purpose  shall  consist  of  two-thirds  of  the  whole  number  of 
senators,  and  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  shall  be  necessary 
to  a  choice. 

3.  But  no  person  constitutionally  ineligible  to  the  office  of 
President,  shall  be  eligible  to  that  of  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States. 

17* 


11  f 


I;: 


TU 


.ii," 


•   V  I:' 


CANADA. 


!!i! 


;•       ! 


!  ;■  ^  ;ii 


m-  >.: 


CHAPTER  I. 

Of  what  advantage  are  the  Canadas  to  England  1 

This  question  has  been  put  to  me,  at  least  one  hundred  times 
since  my  return  from  America.  It  is  argued  that  the  Canadas 
produce  and  export  nothing  except  timber,  and  that  the  protect- 
ing duty  given  to  Canada  timber  is  not  only  very  severely  felt 
by  the  mother-country,  but  very  injurious  to  her  foreign  relations. 
These  observations  are  undeniable ;  and  I  admit  that,  as  a  mere 
colony  compelled  to  add  to  the  wealth  of  England,  (sending  to  her 
all  her  produce,  and  receiving  from  her  all  her  supplies),  Canada 
has  been  worth  less  than  nothing.  But,  admitting  this  for  the 
present,  we  will  now  examine  whether  there  are  no  other 
grounds  for  the  retention  of  the  Canadas  under  our  control. 

Colonies  are  of  value  to  the  mother-country  in  two  ways. 
The  first  is  already  mentioned,  and  in  that  way,  the  present  ad- 
vantage of  the  Canadas  as  colonies  is  abandoned.  The  other 
great  importance  of  colonies  is,  that  they  may  be  considered  as 
outports,  as  stepping-stones,  as  it  were,  over  the  whole  world ; 
and  for  the  present  I  shall  examine  into  the  value  of  these  pos- 
sessions merely  in  this  point  of  view.  We  have  many  islands 
or  colonies  under  our  subjection  which  are  in  themselvcK  not 
only  valueless,  but,  moreover,  extremely  expensive  to  us;  and  if 
every  colony  or  island  is  to  be  valued  merely  according  to  the 
produce  derived  from  it  by  the  mother-country,  we  must  abandon 
Heliogoland,  Ascension,  St.  Helena,  Malta,  and  even  Gibraltar 
itself.  All  these,  and  some  others,  are,  in  point  of  commerce, 
valueless;  yet  they  add  much  to  the  security  of  the  country  and 
to  our  dominion  of  the  seas.  This  will  be  admitted,  and  we 
must  therefore  now  examine  how  far  the  Canadas  may  be  con- 
sidered as  valuable  under  this  second  point  of  view. 

I  have  already  shown  that  the  ambition  for  territory  is  one  of 
the  diseases,  if  1  may  use  the  term,  of  the  American  people.  On 
that  point  they  are  insatiable,  and  that  they  covet  the  Canadas  is 
undeniable.  Let  us  inquire  into  the  reasons  why  the  Americans 
are  so  anxious  to  possess  the  Canadas. 

There  are  many.  In  the  first  place,  they  do  not  like  to  have 
a  people  subjected  to  a  monarchical  form  of  government  as  their 
neighbours:  they  do  not  like  that  security  of  person  and  pro- 
perty, and  a  just  administration  ot  the  law,  should  be  found  in  a 
thinly-peopled  province,  while  they  cannot  obtain  those  advan- 


)t  ai     i 

di    ■ 

m  J 

!;     ,,4 
9h  1      n 

^    !| 

.'  r" 


MARRYAT  S  DIART. 


199 


tages  under  their  own  institutions.  It  is  a  reproach  to  them.  They 
continually  taunt  the  Canadians  that  they  are  tiie  only  portion 
of  the  New  World  who  have  not  thrown  off  the  yoke — the  only 
portion  who  are  not  yet  free ;  and  this  taunt  has  not  been  with- 
out its  effect  upon  the  unthinking  portion  of  the  community. 
What  is  the  cause  of  this  unusual  sympathy  1  The  question  is 
already  answered. 

Another  important  reason  which  the  Americans  have  for  the 
possession  of  the  Canadas  is,  that  they  are  the  means  of  easy 
retaliation  on  the  part  of  England  in  case  of  aggression.    They 
render  them  weak  and  assailable  in  case  of  war.     Had  they  pos- 
session of  the  Canadas,  and  our  other  provinces,  the  United 
States  would  be  almost  invulnerable.     As  it  is,  they  become  de- 
fenceless to  the  north,  and  are  moreover  exposed  to  the  attack 
of  all  the  tribes  of  Indians  concentrated  on  the  western  frontier. 
Indeed,  they  never  will  consider  their  territory  as  complete  "  in 
a  ring  fence,"  as  long  as  we  have  possession  of  the  mouths  of 
the  St.  Lawrence.     They  wish  to  be  able  to  boast  of  an  inland 
navigation  from  nearly  the  Equator  to  the  Pole — from  the  en- 
trance of  the  Mississippi  to  the  exit  of  the  St.  Lawrence.     Our 
possession  of  the  Canadas  is  a  check  to  their  pride  and  ambition, 
which  are  both  as  boundless  as  the  territory  which  they  covet. 

But  there  are  other  reasons  equally  important.  It  is  their 
anxiety  to  become  a  manufacturing  as  well  as  a  producing  na- 
tion. Their  object  is,  that  the  north  should  manufacture  what 
the  south  produces;  and  that,  instead  of  commercial  relations 
with  England,  as  at  presen-t,  that  American  cotton  manufactures 
should  be  borne  in  American  bottoms  over  all  the  world.  This 
they  consider  is  the  great  ultimatum  to  be  arrived  at,  and  they 
look  forward  to  it  as  the  source  of  immense  wealth  and  in- 
creased security  to  the  Union,  and  of  their  wresting  from  Eng- 
land the  sceptre  and  dominion  of  the  seas. 

It  may  be  said  that  the  United  States,  if  they  want  to  become 
a  manufacturing  nation,  have  now  the  power;  but  such  is  not 
the  case.  Until  they  can  completely  shut  out  English  manufac- 
tures, they  have  not.  The  price  of  labour  is  too  dear.  Should 
they  increase  the  tariff,  or  duty,  upon  English  goods,  the  Cana- 
das and  our  other  provinces  will  render  their  efforts  useless,  as 
we  have  a  line  of  coast  of  upwards  of  2,000  miles,  by  which  we 
can  introduce  English  goods  to  any  amount  by  smuggling,  and 
which  it  is  impossible  for  the  Americans  to  guard  against;  and 
as  the  West  fills  up,  this  importation  of  English  goods  would 
every  year  increase.  As  long,  therefore,  as  we  hold  the  Canadas, 
the  Americans  must  be  content  to  be  a  very  inferior  manufac- 
turing nation  to  ourselves;  and  it  may  be  added  that  now  or 
never  is  the  time  for  the  Americans  to  possess  themselves  of 
the  Canadas.  They  perceive  this;  for  when  once  the  Western 
Slates  gain  the  preponderance  in  wealth  and  power,  which  they 
will  in  a  few  years,  the  cause  of  the  Eastern,  or  manufacturing 


fci'   '■ 


{M' 


m 


Hi:' 


i    I 


200 


MARRTAT  S  DIARY. 


'I    I 


w 


t  i 


States  will  be  lost.  The  Western  States  will  not  quarrel  with 
England  on  account  of  the  Eastern,  but  will  import  our  goods 
direct  in  exchange  for  their  produce.  They  themselves  cannot 
manufacture  and  they  will  go  to  market  where  they^can  pur- 
chase cheapest. 

But  do  the  views  of  the  Americans  extend  no  further  1    Would 
they  be  satisfied  if  they  obtained  the  Canadas  1     Most  assuredly 
not.     They  are  too  vast  in  their  ideas — too  ambitious  in  their 
views.     If  Canada  fell,  Nova  Scotia  would  full,  and  they  would 
obtain  what  they  most  covet — the  harbour  of  Halifax.    New 
Brunswick  would  fall,  and  they  would  have  then  driven  us  out 
of  our  Continental  possessions.     Would  they  stop  then  1     No: 
they  never  would  stop  until  they  had  driven  the  English  to  the 
other  side  of  the   Atlantic.     Newfoundland  and   its  fisheries 
would  be  their  next  prey ;  for  it,  as  well  as  our  other  possessions, 
would  then  be  defenceless.     They  would  not  leave  us  the  West 
Indies,  although  useless  to  them.     Such  is  their  object  and  their 
earnest  desire — an  increase  of  territory  and  power  for  themselves, 
and  the  humiliation  of  England.     The   very   eagerness  with 
which  the  Americans  bring  up  this  question  on  purpose  that  they 
may  disavow  their  wishes,  is  one  of  the  strongest  proofs  of  their 
anxiety  to  blind  us  on  the  subject;  but  they  will  never  lose  sight 
of  it;  and  if  they  thought  they  had  any  chance  of  success,  there 
is  no  expense  which  they  would  not  cheerfi'lly  incur,  no  war 
into  which  they  would  not  enter.     Let  not  the  English  be  de- 
ceived by  their  asseverations.    What  I  have  now  asserted  is 
the  fact.    The  same  spirit  which  has  actuated  them  in  dispos- 
sessing the  Indians  of  territories  which  they  cannot  themselves 
populate,  which  prompted  the  "  high  handed  theft"  of  the  Texas 
from  JMexico,  will  induce  them  to  adopt  any  pretext,  as  soon  as 
they  think  they  have  a  chance,  to  seize  upon  the  Canadas  and 
our  other  transatlantic  possessions. 

If  what  I  have  stated  be  correct,  and  I  am  convinced  of  its 
truth  myself,  it  will  be  evident  that  the  Canadas,  independent  of 
every  other  consideration,  become  a  most  important  outpost 
which  we  must  defend  and  hold  possession  of.  Let  it  be  remem- 
bered that  every  loss  to  us,  is  an  increase  to  the  power  of  Ame- 
rica— an  increase  of  her  security  and  to  her  maritime  strength ; 
that  whatever  her  assertions  may  be,  she  is  deadly  hostile  to  us, 
from  the  very  circumstance  that  she  considers  that  we  prevent 
her  aggrandizement  and  prosperity.  America  can  only  rise  to 
the  zenith  which  she  would  attain,  by  the  fall  of  England,  and 
every  disaster  to  this  country  is  to  her  a  source  of  exultation. 
That  there  are  many  Americans  of  a  contrary  opinion  I  grant; 
that  the  city  of  New  York  would  prefer  the  present  amicable 
relations  is  certain;  but  I  have  here  expressed  the  feelings  of  the 
majority,  and  it  must  be  remembered  that  in  America  it  is  the 
majority  who  decide  all  questions. 

To  prove  that  I  am  not  too  severe  upon  the  Americans  in  the 
above  remarks,  let  me  refer  to  their  own  printed  documents. 


MARRY  AT  8  DIARY. 


201 


rel  with 
goods 
cannot 
tan  puT- 

Would 
ssuredly 
in  their 
y  would 
New 
n  us  out 

1     No: 
ih  to  the 
fisheries 
sessions, 
he  West 
and  their 
jmselves, 
ess  with 
that  they 
8  of  their 
ose  sight 
jss,  there 
",  no  war 
ish  be  de- 
sserted  is 
in  dispos- 
lemseives 
the  Texas 
IS  soon  as 
nadas  and 

;ed  of  its 
)endent  of 
it  outpost 
)e  remem- 
r  of  Ame- 
strengrth ; 
itile  to  us, 
'e  prevent 
nly  rise  to 
Inland,  and 
exultation. 
1  I  grant ; 
t  amicable 
ngs  of  the 
I  it  is  the 

ans  in  the 
[nents. 


The  reader  must  be  informed  that  the  Canadian  rebels,  with 
tiieir  American  auxiliaries,  made  incursions  into  our  territory 
near  the  boundary  line,  burnt  the  houses,  took  away  the  cattle, 
and  left  destitute  those  parties  who  were  considered  as  loyal 
and  well  aflected,  or,  in  fact,  those  who  refused  to  arm  and  join 
the  rebels.     When  pursued  by  the  militia,  or  other  forces,  the 
rebel  parties  hastened  over  the  boundary-line,  where  they  were 
secure  under  the  American  protection.     This  system  of  protec- 
tion naturally  irritated  the  loyal  Canadians,  who  threatened  to 
cross  the  boundary  and  attack  the  Americans  in  return.     It  was, 
however,  only  a  threat,  never  being  put  into  execution :  but  upon 
the  strength  of  this  threat,  application  was  made  to  the  Gover- 
nor in  the  State  of  Vermont,  requesting  that  the  arms  in  the 
American  arsenals  might  be  supplied  to  the  citizens  for  their 
protection.     The  Governor  very  properly  refused,  and  issued  a 
proclamation  warning  the  citizens  of  Vermont  not  to  interfere. 
Tiiis  offended  the  majority,  who  forthwith  called  a  meeting  at 
St.  Albans,  the  results  of  which  were  ordered  to  be  priwted  and 
circulated.     I  have  a  copy  of  these  reports  and  resolutions,  from 
which  I  shall  now  give  some  extracts.     Let  it  be  observed  that 
these  are  not  the  resolutions  of  a  few  lawless  and  undisciplined 
people,  bordering  on  the  lakes,  as  the  sympathisers  are  stated  to 
have  been.     The  title  of  Honourable  denotes  that  the  parties  are 
either  Members  of  the  State  or  Federal   Governments ;   and, 
indeed,  the  parties  whose  names  appear  on  the  committee,  are 
all  of  the  first  respectability  in  the  State. 

'*  Meeting  of  the  Freemen  at  St.  Albans. 

"  Agreeable  to  a  notice  circulated  throughout  the  county, 
about  forty-eight  hours  previous  to  the  meeting,  two  thousand  of 
the  freemen  from  the  different  towns  in  the  county  assembled  to 
take  into  consideration  a  recent  proclamation  of  the  Governor, 
and  an  extraordinary  letter  accompanying  the  same,  and  also  to 
express  their  sentiments  on  Canadian  affairs,  especially  such  as 
have  recently  transpired  in  the  neighbourhood  of  latitude  forty- 
five  degrees. 

"  Jeptha  Bradley,  Esq.,  of  St.  Albans,  was  called  to  the  chair, 
and,  agreeable  to  a  resolve  of  the  meeting,  appointed  the  Hon. 
S.  S.  Brown,  Hon.  Timothy  Foster,  and  G.  W.  Kendall,  Esq., 
a  committee  to  nominate  officers. 

"The  following  gentlemen  were  nominated  and  appointed: — 
Hon.  Austin  Fuller,  of  Enosburgh,  President. 

Vice  Presidents. 

Col.  S.  B.  Hazeltine,  Bakersfield ;  Hon.  Horace  Eaton,  Enos- 
burgh ;  Doctor  I.  S.  Webster,  Berkshire  ;  William  Green,  Esq., 
Sheldon;  Martin  Wires,  Esq.,  Cambridge;  Hon.  Timothy  Fos- 
ter, Swanton. 

Secretaries. 

J.  J.  Beardsley,  Sheldon ;  Zoroaster  Fisk,  Swanton. 


m 


1 . , 


202 


HARRYAT  8  DIART. 


fr  -t       •»■ 


"  The  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  a  committee  to  pre- 
pare a  report  and  resolutions  for  the  meeting : — 

"  Henry  Adams,  Esq.,  St.  Albans  ;  N.  L.  Whittemore,  Esq., 
Swanton ;  R.  A.  Shattuck,  Esq.,  Sheldon ;  Bradley  Barlow, 
Esq.,  Fairfield;  I.  B.  Bowdish,  Esq.,  Swanton. 

"  The  letter  of  certain  citizens  of  Burlington,  and  the  procla- 
mation of  his  Excellency,  Silas  H.  Jennison,  were  then  read  by 
the  Secretary,  J.  J.  Beardsley,  Esq.  After  the  reading  of  the 
letter  and  the  proclamation  the  meeting  was  addressed  by  se- 
veral gentlemen,  in  an  eloquent  and  impressive  manner,  and 
their  remarks  severally  called  forth  great  applause. 

"  The  committee,  on  resolutions  by  Henry  Adams,  Esq.,  chair- 
man, then  presented  the  following  report  and  resolutions,  which 
were  unanimously  adopted^ 

After  having  in  the  report  stated  that  threats  have  been  made, 
they  then  attack  the  legality  of  the  Governor's  proclamation  and 
conduct,  as  follows : — 

"  The  committee  have  no  evidence  to  show  that  the  execution 
of  the  threats  above  mentioned,  or  that  any  invasion  of  the 
rights  of  American  citizens,  would  knowingly  be  permitted  by 
the  existing  government  in  Canada,  or  approved  of  by  a  majority 
of  the  citizens  in  the  Canadian  townships ;  but  when  they  bear 
in  mind,  that  civil  law  is  suspended  in  Canada,  and  in  its  place 
arc  substituted  the  summary  proceedings  of  military  courts  and 
the  capricious  wills  of  petty  military  officers;  when  they  con- 
sider the  excited  and  embittered  feelings  which  prevail  along  the 
frontier,  and  which  some  have  studied  to  inflame,  and  also  the 
character  of  a  portion  of  the  population  which  borders  upon  our 
territory,  they  deem  it  not  improbable  that  acts  of  violence  might 
be  attempted,  and  even  that  a  gang  of  marauders  might  be  ga- 
thered together,  and  led  to  make  some  petty  invasion  into  our 
territory,  disturbing  the  public  peace,  and  committing  acts  of 
outrage.  If  this  be  deemed  improbable,  still  a  state  of  suspense 
and  doubt  is  not  to  be  endured.  Every  family  on  the  frontier 
should  live  in  a  state  of  undisturbed  repose.  The  ability  not 
only  to  resist  aggression,  but  to  redress  injuries  with  summary 
justice,  furnishes  a  certain,  if  not  the  only  guarantee  of  perfect 
quiet. 

"  With  these  views  at  recent  meetings  of  the  people,  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  wait  upon  the  Governor  and  request  the 
use  of  a  part  of  the  arms  in  the  State  arsenal.  This  request 
has  been  denied  ;  and  the  reason  assigned  by  his  Excellency  is, 
that  he  has  doubts  whether  by  law  he  can  loan  out  the  arms  of 
the  State  to  be  used  by  the  people  of  the  State  for  their  own 
defence.  Without  commenting  on  the  technicalities  which  so 
much  embarrass  his  Excellency,  or  inquiring  into  the  wisdom  of 
that  construction  of  the  law  which  infers,  that  because  the  State 
arms  are  to  be  kept  Jit  for  use,  therefore  they  are  not  to  be  used^ 
the  committee  would  beg  leave  respectfully  to  suggest  to  the 


MARRYAT  8  DIARY. 


•203 


e  to  pre- 

e,  Esq., 
Barlow, 

)  procla- 

read  by 

of  the 

I  by  se- 

ler,  and 

\.,  chair- 
s,  which 

3n  made, 
.tion  and 

xecution 
of  the 
itted  by- 
majority 
ley  bear 
ts  place 
urts  and 
ley  con- 
ilong  the 
also  the 
upon  our 
20  might 
it  be  ga- 
into  our 
;•  acts  of 
suspense 
frontier 
ility  not 
summary 
f  perfect 

3,  a  com- 
[uest  the 
3  request 
ilency  is, 
)  arms  of 
leir  own 
vhich  so 
risdotn  of 
the  State 
be  usedy 
3t  to  the 


people  that,  inasmuch  as  they  are  to  receive  no  aid  from  the 
State,  it  is  their  duty  at  once  to  arm  themselves,  and  to  rely 
upon  themselves. 

"  While  the  governor  has  thus  declined  furnishing  any  aid 
for  the  security  of  the  frontier,  he  has  issued  a  proclamation  en- 
joining upon  the  citizens  of  this  State  the  observance  of  a  strict 
neutrality  between  the  hostile  parties  in  Canada.  The  propri- 
ety of  our  Governor's  issuing  a  proclamation  on  an  occasion  like 
the  present,  merely  advisory,  may  well  be  questioned.  It  nei- 
ther creates  any  new  obligations,  nor  adds  force  to  those  already 
resting  on  our  citizens.  When  it  is  considered  that  our  rela- 
tions  with  foreign  powers  are  solely  confided  to  the  general  go- 
vernment, and  that  if  the  people  of  this  State  should  boldly 
break  the  obligations  of  nentrality,  the  governor  of  the  State 
has  no  power  to  restrain  or  to  punish,  it  must  be  admitted,  that 
a  proclamation  of  neutrality  issuing  from  our  State  executive 
seems  to  be  over-stepping  the  proprieties  of  the  office,  and 
should  be  exercised,  if  at  all,  only  in  case  of  a  general  and 
glaring  violation  of  the  laws  of  nations;  and  even  then  it  may 
reasonably  be  questioned  whether  the  ordinary  process  of  law 
would  not  be  sufficient,  and  whether  gratuitous  advice  to  the 
people  on  the  one  hand,  and  gratuitous  interference  with  the 
exclusive  functions  of  the  general  government  on  the  other, 
would  become  pertinent  by  being  stamped  with  the  official  Seal 
of  State,  We  are  not  aware  of  any  express  authority  in  our 
constitution  or  laws  for  the  exercise  of  this  novel  mode  of  ad- 
dressing the  people ;  and  it  can  only  be  justified  on  the  ground, 
that  the  chief  magistrate  has  something  of  fact  or  doctrine  of 
importance  to  communicate,  of  which  the  people  are  supposed 
to  be  ignorant.  In  neither  point  of  view  is  there  any  thing  strik- 
ing in  this  otherwise  extraordinary  document. 

"  No  facts  are  set  forth  before  unknown  to  the  public,  except 
that  a  representation  has  been  made  to  his  Excellency  that 
'  hostile  forces  had  been  organised  within  this  Slate,''  of  which 
organisation  our  citizens  are  profoundly  ignorant. 

"  To  the  doctrine  of  this  proclamation, — that  the  declaration 
of  martial  law,  by  Lord  Gosford,  changes  the  relations  becween 
the  United  States  and  Canada,  we  cannot  assent.  Our  relations 
with  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies  rest  upon  treaties,  and  the 
general  law  of  nations,  which,  it  is  believed,  her   Majesty's 


enlarge 


nor 


Governor  in  Chief  of  Lower  Canada  can  neither 
restrict. 

"  To  assume  that  our  citizens  are  ignorant  of  their  rights  and 
obligations  as  members  of  a  neutral  independent  power,  is  to 
take  for  granted  that  they  have  forgotten  the  repeated  infrac* 
tions  of  those  rights  which  have  so  often  agitated  our  country 
since  the  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  which  led  to  the 
late  war  with  Great  Britain,  and  which  have  given  rise  to 
claims  of  indemnity  that  are  still  due  from  various  powers  ot 


/.  ,i 


U^ 


Ij!' 


^f 


ilM. 


,11 


IJH' 


204 


MARRY  AT  S  DIARY. 


!i^      \ 


Europe.  Every  page  of  the  history  of  our  country  portrays 
violations  of  her  neutral  rights  by  the  despotic  and  haughty 
powers  of  Europe,  among  whom  England  has  ever  been  fore- 
most. Your  committee  do  not  deem  it  necessary  to  enlarge 
upon  this  subject." 

After  the  report  came  the  resolutions,  a  portion  of  wliich  I 
subjoin : — 

*'  Resolved — that  the  safety  of  the  people  is  the  supreme  law, 
and  we  recommend  to  our  citizens  to  arm  themselves  for  the 
maintenance  of  this  law. 

"  Resolved — That  the  proclamation  of  martial  law  in  Canada, 
and  placing  arms  in  the  hands  of  people  unaccustomed  to  their 
use,  hostile  to  our  institutions,  and  heated  by  intestine  dissen- 
sions, have  a  direct  tendency  to  disturb  the  peace  of  our  citi- 
zens, and  demands  the  immediate  interference  of  the  general 
government. 

"  Resolved— That  our  government  ought  to  take  immediate 
measures  to  obtain  redress  for  the  injuries  and  insults  perpe- 
trated on  our  citizens  by  the  people  of  Canada. 

•'Resolved — That  as  friends  of  human  liberty  and   human 
rights,  we  cannot  restrain  the  expression  of  our  sympathy,  when 
we  behold  an  oppressed  and  heroic  people  unfurl  the  banner  of 
freedom. 

"  Resolved — That  we  hope  that  time  will  soon  come  when  the 
bayonet  shall  fail  to  sustain  the  last  relic  of  royally  which  now 
lingers  on  the  western  continent. 

"  Resolved — That  we  concur  in  the  opinions  which  have  been 
fully  and  freely  expressed  in  the  British  parliament  by  eminent 
English  statesmen ;  that  *  in  the  ordinary  course  of  things, 
Canada  must  soon  be  separated  from  the  mother  cotmtry.' 

"  Resolved — That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  independent  Ame- 
rican to  aid  in  every  possible  manner,  consistent  with  our  laws, 
the  exertions  of  the  patriots  in  Lower  Canada,  against  the  ty- 
ranny,  oppression,  and  misrule  of  a  despotic  government^ 


CHAPTER  n. 

The  next  question  to  be  considered  is,  whether,  independent 
of  their  being  important  to  us  as  an  outpost  to  defend  our  trans- 
atlantic possessions,  the  Canadas  are  likely  to  be  useful  to  us,  as 
a  colony,  in  a  commercial  point  of  view.  This  requires  much 
consideration. 

It  must  be  admitted  that,  up  to  the  present,  we  may  consider 
the  Canadas  to  have  been  a  heavy  burden  to  this  country.  From 
what  I  am  now  going  to  state,  there  are  many,  who  agreeing 
with  me  in  most  other  points,  will  be  likely  to  dissent.  That  I 
cannot  help;  I  may  be  in  error,  but,  at  all  events,  I  shall  not  be 
in  error  from  a  too  hasty  decision. 


1^  ■:   <li 


MARRY  AT  S  DIARY. 


205 


That  it  is  wise  nnd  proper  tor  a  mother  country  to  assist  and 
support  her  colonies  in  their  infimcy  is  inuloubtod.  In  so  doin;^', 
the  mother  country  taxes  herself  tor  the  adviinia<»'es  to  be  here- 
after derived  from  the  colony;  but  it  may  occur  that  the  tax 
imposed  upon  the  people  of  the  mother  country  may  ho  too  oner- 
ous, at  the  same  time  that  no  advantaores  at  all  coimnensurate 
are  derived  from  the  colony.  When  such  is  the  case,  ilic  tax 
is  not  fair ;  and  the  colony  tor  whose  benefit  that  lax  lias  been 
imposed,  is  looked  upon  with  ill-will.  Tiiis  is  the  precise  situa- 
tion of  the  Canadas,  and  this  is  the  cause  why  there  is  so 
strong  an  outcry  against  our  retaining  possession  of  these  pro- 
vinces. 

The  bonus  of  forty-five  shillings  on  a  load  of  timber,  which 
is  given  to  the  Canadas  by  our  present  duties,  is  much  too 
great;  and  has  pressed  too  heavily  on  the  people  of  the  mother 
country,  ft  has,  in  fact,  created  a  monopoly;  and  when  it  is 
considered  how  important  and  necessary  an  article  timber  is  in 
this  country, — how  this  enormous  bonus  on  Canadian  timber  af- 
fects the  shipping,  house-building,  and  agricultural  interests — it 
is  no  wonder  that  people  wish  to  get  rid  of  the  Canadas  and  the 
tax  at  one  and  the  same  time.  It  is  also  injurious  to  us  in  our 
commercial  relations  with  the  northern  countries,  who  refuse 
our  manufactures  because  we  have  laid  so  heavy  a  duty  upon 
their  produce.  This  tax  for  the  benefit,  of  the  Canadian  pro- 
vince was  put  on  during  the  war,  without  any  intention  that  it 
should  remain  permanent :  and  I  think  I  shall  be  able  satisfac- 
torily to  establish,  that,  not  only  is  it  unjust  towards  our  own 
people,  but  that,  instead  of  benefiting,  it  will  be,  now  that  the 
i.'anadas  are  fast  increasing  in  population,  an  injury  to  the  Ca- 
nadas themselves. 

Up  to  the  present  period,  timber  has  been  the  only  article  of 
export  from  Canada :  we  certainly  have  had  the  advantage  of  a 
large  carrying  trade,  and  the  employment  of  many  thousand  tons 
of  shipping;  but,  with  this  exception,  the  timber  trade  has  been 
injurious,  not  only  to  the  mother  country,  but  to  the  colony  it- 
self, a-  it  has  prevented  her  real  prosperity,  which  must  ever 
depend  upon  the  culture  of  the  land  and  the  increase  of  popula- 
tion. The  first  point  to  which  the  attention  of  a  colony  should 
bo  directed,  is  its  own  support,  the  competence  and  supply  of  all 
the  necessaries  of  life  to  its  inhabitants;  it  is  not  until  after  this 
object  has  been  obtained,  that  it  must  direct  its  attention  to  the 
gain  which  may  accrue  from  any  surplus  produce.  In  what 
way  has  the  timber  trade  benefited  the  Canadas?  Has  it 
thrown  any  wealth  into  the  provinces]  most  certainly  not;  the 
timber  has  been  cut  down,  either  by  those  Canadians  who  would 
have  been  much  better  employed  in  tilling  the  land,  for  every 
acre  cleared  is  real  wealth  ;  or  by  Americans  who  have  come 
over  to  cut  down  the  limber  and  have  returned  to  their  own 
country  to  spend  the  money.    That  the  profits  of  the  timber 


ir 


l< 


,<  fi-* 


i 


206 


MARKYAT  8  DIARY. 


;  t, 


f: 


.  t 


trade  have  been  great  is  certain ;  but  have  these  profits  remain- 
ed in  the  Canadas  J — have  the  sums  realised  been  expended 
there  1 — no;  they  liavo  been  realised  in,  or  brought  over  to 
England,  shared  among  a  few  pereons  of  influence  who  have,  to 
a  certain  degree,  obtainml  a  monopoly  by  the  bonus  granted,  but 
the  Canadas  have  benefited  liitle  or  none,  and  the  mother-country 
has  received  serious  injury.  That  the  parties  connected  with 
the  Canada  timber  trade  will  deny  this,  and  endeavour  to  ridi- 
cule my  arguments,  I  am  aware  ;  and  that  they  are  an  influential 
party  1  well  know  ;  but  I  truest  before  I  have  concluded,  to  prove 
to  every  disinterested  person,  that  1  am  correct  in  my  view  of 
the  case,  and  that  the  prosperity  of  the  Canadas  is  a  very  differ- 
ent question  from  the  prosperity  of  the  Canadian  timber  mer- 
chants, or  even  the  proprietors  on  the  Ottawa. 

When  the  protecting  duty  was  first  imposed,  there  was  no 
idea  of  its  being  a  permanent  duty  :  it  was  intended  as  an  en- 
couragement for  ships  to  go  to  Canada  for  timber,  when  it  could 
not  be  got  in  the  Baltic.  It  was,  in  fact,  a  war  measure,  which 
should  have  been  removed  upon  the  return  to  peace.  The  rea- 
son why  it  was  not,  is,  the  plea  brought  forward,  that  the  taking 
off  the  protecting  duty  would  be  a  serious  loss  to  the  emigrant 
settler,  who  would  have  no  means  of  disposing  of  his  timber 
after  he  had  felled  it,  and  that  the  emigrant  looked  to  his  timber 
as  his  first  profits  ;  moreover,  that  it  gave  employment  to  the 
emigrant  in  the  long  winters.  That  those  who  have  never  been 
in  the  country  were  led  away  by  this  assertion  I  can  easily  ima- 
gine, but  I  must  say  that  a  more  barefaced  falsehood  was  never 
uttered.  There  are  varieties  of  emigrants,  and  those  with  capi- 
tal speculate  in  timber  as  well  as  other  articles ;  but  let  us  ex- 
amine into  the  proceedings  of  the  emigrant  settler,  that  is,  the 
man  who  purchases  an  allotment  and  commences  as  a  farmer — 
fbr  this  is  the  party  to  whom  the  supposed  philanthropy  was  to 
extend.  He  builds  his  cottage  and  clears  two  or  three  acres, 
that  is,  he  fells  the  trees ;  as  soon  as  he  has  done  this,  if  the 
weather  permit,  he  burns  them  where  they  lie,  the  branches  and 
smaller  limbs  being  collected  round  the  trunks  as  fuel  to  con- 
sume them.  This  he  is  compelled  to  do,  for  the  land  having 
been  so  Ictig  smothered  by  the  want  of  air  and  sunshine,  arising 
from  the  denseness  of  the  forest,  has  a  degree  of  acidity  in  it, 
which  the  alkali  of  the  wood  and  ashes  are  required  to  correct, 
previous  to  his  obtaining  a  crop.  I  do  not  believe  that  a  settler 
ever  sold  a  tree  when  he  was  clearing,  although  if  water-car- 
riage was  convenient,  he  may  afterwards,  when  he  was  in  com- 
petent circumstances,  have  done  so.  Having  raised  his  crop 
from  the  first  year's  clearing,  what  is  his  employment  during 
the  winter, — cutting  down  timber  on  the  Ottawa  for  the  English 
market  1  no;  cutting  down  timber  on  his  own  property  as  fast  as 
he  can,  so  as  to  have  it  ready  for  burning  in  the  early  spring, 
and  having  a  crop  off  this,  his  second  clearing.    And  bo  he  con- 


|H  .:     t\ 


MARRYAT^S  DIART. 


207 


3  reinain- 
[ixpended 
;  over  to 
)  have,  to 
nted,  but 
r-country 
;ted  with 
r  to  ridi- 
ifluential 
,  to  prove 
y  view  of 
ry  difFer- 
ber  mer- 

e  was  no 
IS  an  en- 
1  it  could 
•e,  which 
The  rea- 
le  taking 
emigrant 
s  timber 
lis  timber 
nt  to  the 
3ver  been 
isily  ima- 
ges never 
fiih  capi- 
et  us  ex- 
it is,  the 
farmer — 
)y  was  to 
ee  acres, 
is,  if  the 
iches  and 
1  to  con- 
I  having 
3,  arising 
Uty  in  it, 
►  correct, 
a  settler 
aler-car- 
3  in  com- 
his  crop 
it  during 
English 
Eis  fast  as 
y  spring, 
)  he  con- 


tinues, with  full  employment  on  his  own  farm,  until  he  has 
cleared  sufficient  for  the  growing  of  his  corn  and  the  pasture  for 
his  cattle.  When  he  han  bocomo  independent  and  comfortable, 
and  has  a  few  thousand  dollars  to  spare,  then  he  will  erect  a 
saw-mill,  and  work  up  his  own  trees  into  lumber  for  sale,  but  by 
that  time  he  must  be  considered  as  a  rich  man  for  u  settler.  The 
timber  trade,  therefore,  is  hurtful  to  the  Canadas,  in  so  much  as 
it  prevents  them  from  clearing  land  and  becoming  independent 
people,  who  by  other  means  would  become  so.  The  timber 
which  is  cut  down  for  exportation,  is  chiefly  from  the  forests  on 
or  near  the  Ottawa  river,  and  the  emigrant  settler  has  neither 
interest  or  concern  in  it. 

It  may  be  argued  that,  as  settlers  do,  as  soon  as  they  are  in 
better  circumstances,  erect  saw-mills,  and  work  up  their  trees 
into  lumber,  that  it  would  be  unfair  to  deprive  them  of  that  ad- 
vantage. I  will  grant  that ;  but  the  fact  is,  that  you  will  not  do 
so;  for  of  the  quantity  of  timber  and  lumber  exported  from  the 
Canadas,  it  is  only  one-half  which  is  sent  to  the  British  market, 
the  other  half  is  divided  between  the  West  Indies,  the  United 
States,  and  their  own  consumption;  and  the  demand  of  the  United 
States  will  so  rapidly  increase,  that,  in  a  few  years,  the  Cana- 
dians will  care  little  for  sending  their  timber  to  England,  even 
if  the  present  duty  were  kept  on.  I  consider  that  this  bounty 
upon  cutting  timber  is  very  injurious  to  the  American  provinces, 
as  it  distracts  their  attention  from  the  real  source  of  wealth, 
which  must  consist  in  clearing  the  country  ;  for,  to  show  how 
great  a  difference  this  makes  to  them,  it  must  be  observed,  that 
a  farm  which  was  only  worth  two  dollars  an  acre  when  the 
settler  first  came  to  it,  will,  as  soon  as  others  have  cleared 
around  him,  rise  to  twenty  or  thirty  dollars  per  acre.  Every 
man,  therefore,  who  settles  and  clears  land,  not  only  benefits 
himself,  but  increases  the  value  of  the  property  of  those  all 
around  him ;  while  the  feller  of  timber  on  the  Ottawa  only  puts 
a  few  dollars  into  his  own  pocket,  and  does  no  good  to  the  pro- 
vince, as  the  timber-dealers  in  England  reap  all  the  harvest. 

It  would  appear  very  strange  that  the  ship  owners  should  have 
joined  the  Canadian  timber  merchants  in  persuading  the  govern- 
ment to  continue  these  duties,  were  it  not  from  the  fact  that  the 
ship  owners  appear,  invariably,  to  oppose  any  measure  advanta- 
geous to  their  own  interests.  That  the  carrying  trade  to  the 
Canadas  is  of  importance  is  certain ;  but  of  how  much  more  im- 
portance to  the  ship  owner  is  the  reduction  of  expense  in  build- 
ing his  ship,  which  must  ensue  if  the  timber  duties  were  re- 
duced. The  ship  owner  complains  that  he  cannot  sail  his  ship 
at  as  low  a  rate  as  foreigners ;  that  he  must  be  protected,  or 
that  he  cannot  compete  with  them  in  any  way ;  and  yet  he  op- 
poses the  very  measure  which  would  materially  assist  him  in  so 
doing.  Bat  the  fact  is,  that,  as  I  shall  eventually  show,  the  car- 
rying trade  with  Canada  would  not  be  lost,  though  the  cargo 


n, 


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208 


MAKUVAT8  DIART. 


J; 


B^il 


;         ( 


Would  not  bo  tlio  sfitiifi ;  and  tlioro  iw  ovory  rnas(tn  to  siipposr 
that  Uio  (Mnployment  ot'tho  shippiiij^  would  very  hooii  utnouiil  U> 
tlu;  siiiiic  toiimif^e  ns  at  prowont. 

Tho  next  oonsidoration  is,  to  what.  Hlioiild  the  duty  b<;  roducod. 
so  a H  not  to  ufft'Ct  oiir  rovenuo  !  Thi.s  in  u  questiorj  easily  an- 
BWor<Ml. 

Ill  tho  Report  on  Timhor  Duties,  Appendix  No.  10,  wo  irnve* 
in  round  numbers,  tor  the  year  lSi3: — 

Timber  exported  from  Canada  and  Ame- 
rican provinces,  caleulatc«l  in  loads. 
Timber  from  the  north  of  Europe,  in  ditto, 


Loails. 
71'MMK) 
41l,(MK) 


(hiti/  pfiiif. 
jC:i(M).(H)l> 


l,i(}:3,ooo    i,28r),00() 

Now  it  is  certain  that,  wlierever  the  timber  may  come  from, 
the  same  quantity  will  be  required  ;  we  have,  Iherelbre,  to  fix 
a  duty  upon  timber  cominij  from  all  ])arts  of  the  world,  by  which 
the  revenue  will  not  sutler.  A  duty  of  2r)s,  per  load  will  ijive, 
upon  the  whole  importation,  n  revenue  of  Xl,4r)3,(H)0,  not  only 
an  increase  of  revenue  upon  the  timber  at  present  imported;  but 
there  is  every  reason  to  suppose  that  it  would  occasion  a  much 
greater  consumption  of  timber,  and  of  course  a  jrreat  increase  of 
revenue.  I  do  not  consider  that  it  would  be  advisable  to  make 
this  reduction  immediately.  There  is  a  large  tonnage  employed 
in  the  Canada  trade,  which  might  as  well  wear  out  in  it;  sujd 
it  would  be  but  fair  to  allow  those  who  have  embarked  their  ca- 
pital in  the  trade,  to  have  time  to  withdraw  it.  As  the  Canadas 
are  not  yet  prepared  to  send  other  produce  to  the  market,  we 
can,  with  great  propriety,  confer  this  boon  upon  the  present  tim- 
ber trade.  The  reduction  of  the  duty  should  be  gradual,  and 
extended  over  ten  years,  at  which  period  the  tinal  reduction  lo 
25s.  per  load  should  take  place ;  by  wiiich  time,  if  Canada  be 
cherished,  she  will  have  other  produce  tor  the  market. 

The  more  I  consider  the  question,  the  more  I  am  convinced 
that  this  alteration  would  be  a  benefit  to  all  parties.  We  then 
should  be  able  to  build  ships  at  a  moderate  price ;  we  should 
have  a  fall  in  house-rent;  and,  indeed,  it  would  be  of  advantage 
to  every  class  in  this  country ;  and,  however  interested  people 
may  argue,  the  removal  of  this  protecting  duty  would  be  the 
greatest  boon  and  kindness  which  we  could  confer  on  our  trans- 
atlantic possessions. 

Let  us  now  inquire  what  are  likely  to  be  made  the  future 
prospects  and  produce  of  the  Canadas  as  the  population  in- 
creases, and  the  resources  of  the  country  will  be  developed. 

Lower  Canada  is  a  sterile  country ;  not  that  the  land  is  in 
itself  bad,  but  from  the  severity  and  length  of  the  winters. 
The  climate  of  Lower  Canada  is  precisely  the  same  as  that  of 
Russia,  and  so  might  be  its  produce.  The  winters  are  tedioui-, 
but  not  unhealthy,  as  they  are  dry.     The  summers,  like  all  the 


mk  I 


M\RRYAT  B  DIARY. 


200 


summers  in  the  northern  rcpions,  althouph  short,  nro  excessively 
hot.  It  is  owing  to  this  oxcossivo  heul  of  iho  sinniin'r  that  tli(» 
niuizo,  or  Indian  corn,  which  will  not  ripon  in  this  country,  cun 
be  ||;rown  in  Lower  Cunudu,  and  it  in  the  principal  corn  which 
is  raised,  i'h*'  French  Canadians  who  inhabit  Lower  (Canada 
are  but  iiidilfeffUif  and  careless  tiirmers,  yet  slill  they  contrive  to 
live  in  app;irf;nt  comiufi  but  the  question  is  not  whether  the 
inhttbif  nitsof  I»wer  Canada  can  support  themselves,  but  whether 
they  aro  lil»oly  lo  b<*  able  to  produce  any  thinjf  which  might  be- 
come an  aitjch"  of  export  to  England.  I  should  say  yes:  they 
may  produce  tar  .i)A  hemp,  two  very  important  articles,  and  tor 
which  we  are  almost  wholly  dependent  upon  Russia.  Tar  they 
can  most  assuredly  produce;  and,  with  the  same  climate  as  Russia, 
why  not  hemp  I  Hemp  will  gi  mv  in  any  climate,  and  almost 
in  any  soil,  except  very  stiff  clay,  and  1  consider  the  soil  of 
Lower  Canada  admirably  adapted  to  it.  Up  to  the  present  time 
the  French  Canadians  have  merely  vegetated,  but  as  the  country 
fills  up,  and  they  gradually  amalgamate  with  the  other  settlers, 
there  is  no  doubt  that  they  will  rapidly  improve. 

Upper  Canada  has  been,  and  is  still,  but  little  known.  At  tiic 
close  of  the  war,  tliere  was  not  a  population  of  40,000  upon  the 
whole  province :  even  now  there  is  but  400,000  upon  a  territory 
capable  of  receiving  and  supporting  many  millions.  It  is,  with- 
out exception,  the  most  favoured  spot  in  North  America,  having 
all  the  fertility  of  the  Southern  and  Western  States,  without 
being  subject  to  the  many  and  fatal  diseases  which  are  a  draw- 
back upon  the  latter.  Although  so  far  north,  its  climate  is  pe- 
culiarly mild,  from  its  being  so  wholly  surrounded  with  water, 
which  has  the  efT'ect  of  softening  down  both  the  cold  of  the 
winter  and  the  heat  of  the  summer.  It  abounds  with  the  most 
splendid  timber;  is  well  watered;  the  land  is  of  the  richest 
quality ;  the  produce  is  very  great,  and  the  crops  are  almost 
certain.  I  particularly  notice  this  as  I  consider  Upper  Canada 
to  be  the  finest  corn  country  in  the  world. 

At  present  the  resources  of  the  Canadas  are  unknown ;  the 
country  has  not  been  explored ;  it  is  without  capital,  and  I  may 
add  without  credit,  but  its  prospects  are  very  favourable.  The 
timber  trade  to  England  will  in  a  few  years,  even  allowing  the 
present  bonus  to  be  continued,  be  of  little  advantage  to  Upper 
Canada ;  they  will  find  a  much  better  market  as  the  Western 
States  fill  up,  as  then  there  will  be  a  great  demand  for  lumber, 
which  will  be  obtained  cheaper  fiom  Canada  than  from  any 
portion  of  the  United  States.  Even  now  lumber  is  sent  over 
from  Upper  Canada  to  those  portions  of  the  United  States  bor- 
derinor  on  the  lakes.  I  have  pointed  out  the  want  of  timber  in 
the  Western  States,  that  is,  of  timber  fit  for  building ;  they  have 
some  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin,  which  will  soon  be  absorbed, 
and  then  the  Canada  timber  and  lumber  will  be  in  demand,  and 

18* 


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■ij: 


210 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


¥%.  I 


m  ' 


I  have  no  doubt  that  there  will  be  a,  very  extensive  exportation 
of  it. 

The  next  article  of  produce  to  which  the  Canadians  should 
direct  their  attention  is  the  fisheries  on  the  lake,  which  may  be 
carried  on  to  any  extent  and  with  great  profit.  The  trout  and 
white  fish,  botii  very  superior  to  the  Newfoundland  cod,  are  to 
be  taken  with  the  greatest  ease,  and  in  vast  quantities.  I  have 
mentioned  that  the  Americans  have  already  commenced  this 
fishery,  and  the  demand  is  rapidly  increasing.  As  the  West  fills 
up,  the  supply  would  hardly  keep  pace  with  the  demand ;  besides 
that  it  would  also  be  an  article  of  exportation  to  this  rountry. 

There  are  millions  and  millions  of  acres  to  the  north  and  about 
Lake  Superior,  fit  for  little  else  than  the  increase  of  the  animals 
whose  furs  we  obtain,  and  which  will  probably  never  be  brought 
into  cultivation ;  yet  these  lands  are  rich  in  one  point,  which 
is,  that  the  maple-tree  grows  there,  and  any  quantity  of  sugar 
may  be  collected  from  it,  as  soon  as  the  population  is  thick 
enough  to  spare  hands  for  its  collection.  A  maple-tree,  carefully 
lapped,  will  yield  for  forty  years,  and  give  six  or  seven  pounds 
of  sugar,  fully  equal  to  the  best  East-India  produce,  and  refining 
well.  A  few  tons  are  collected  at  present,  but  it  may  become 
a  large  article  of  export. 

The  Unted  States  appear  to  be  rich  in  most  metals,  but  par- 
ticularly in  lead  and  iron  ;*  the  metal  which  they  are  most  de- 


M    > 


I 


*  The  following  description  of  the  iron  mines  at  Marmora  are  worihy  the 
attention  of  the  reader.    It  is  from  the  engineer  who  was  sent  to  survey  them. 

"  To  Isaac  Fraser,  Esq. 

"  The  water  power  at  Marmora,  and  its  sufficiency  for  all  hydraulic  pnsposes, 
may  be  belter  imagined  than  explained  to  you  by  me,  from  the  fact,  that  the 
faUs  occur  upon  the  Crow  River,  at  the  foot  of  untold  lakes  falling  into  Crow 
Lake,  the  deepest  inland  lake  in  the  province,  and  just  below  the  junction  of 
the  Beaver  River,  which  latter  has  its  source  ist  Ih^  Ottawa  or  Grand  River,  or 
the  waters  flowing  parallel  therewith,  and  by  the  outlet  at  the  Marmora  Falls : 
these  head  waters,  on  the  confluence  with  the  waters  of  the  Otonabet',and  Rice 
Lake  in  Crow  Bay,  six  miles  below  the  works,  form  the  great  Ri.jr  Trent, 
second  in  importance  and  magnitude  only  to  the  St.  Lawrence.  It  is  sufficient 
for  me  to  add,  that  I  deem  the  water  power  at  the  works  abundantly  equal  to 
all  the  purposes  of  machinery  and  manufacture,  wiiich  can  for  centuries  be  es 
tablished  there. 

"  Immediately  adjoining  the  works  there  is  an  ore  bed,  from  the  partial  de 
velopement  of  which,  and  from  the  opinions  \  have  received  of  its  superior 
quality,  it  would  appear  to  be  of  the  purest  kind  of  iron  ore,  except  nativr 
iron,  in  the  same  veins  with  which  is  an  admixture  of  red  paint  and  yellow 
ochre,  and  in  separate  veins  and  beds  at  this  locality,  those  paint.«!  occur  in 
some  quantities,  several  barrels  of  which,  especially  the  red  paint,  Mr.  Hayes 
disposed  of  at  25s.  per  barrel,  at  the  works,  and  it  seems  probable  they  would 
become  profitable  articles  of  commerce.  Here  also  there  is  a  bed  of  purely 
white  marble,  not  seemingly  stratified,  but  in  large  blocks;  and  a  quarry  of 
superior  stone  for  lithographic  purposes,  the  qu.ility  of  which  has  been  tested 
and  reported  favourably  upon.  This  ore  bed  would  be  from  its  situation  within 
any  wall  constructed  for  the  custody  of  the  convicts,  but  from  the  great  jumble 
of  mineral  substances,  which  the  careless  opening  of  those  veins  hasoecasioued, 
it  is  not  possible  to  hazard  an  opinion  as  to  the  probable  extent  of  minerals 
here,  but  from,  if  I  may  judge  by  appearances  and  from  geological  analogy,  the 
few  acres  surrounding,  it  is  probable  they  are  sufficiently  extensive  to  be  an 
object  of  consideration— '.  iveral  hundred  tons  of  ore  have  already  been  taken 
out  for  the  furnaces.    rr.<>-e  is  at  this  place  a  well-built  bridge  and  a  wharf 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


211 


xportation 

ms  should 
ch  may  be 

trout  and 

cod,  are  to 

f,     I  have 

need  this 

West  fills 

d;  besides 

'ountry. 

and  about 

le  animals 

)e  brought 

lint,  which 

y  of  sugar 

n  is  thick 

carefully 
en  pounds 
id  refinino 
ay  become 

s,  but  par- 
e  most  de- 


■e  worlhy  the 
survey  tlieiii. 

jlic  pusposes, 
fact,  that  tlit- 
ng  into  Crow 
!  junction  of 
ind  River,  or 
irniora  Falls : 
bee,  and  Itiit 
Ri,.r  Trent, 
t  is  suflicicnt 
ntly  equal  to 
iturjes  be  es 

le  partial  de- 
'  its  superior 
ixcept  nativr 
;  and  yellow 
nts  occur  in 
It,  Mr.  Hayes 
3  they  would 
ed  of  purely 
I  a  quarry  of 
3  been  tested 
lation  within 
great  jumble 
isoecasioned, 
t  of  minerals 
analogy,  the 
live  to  be  an 
y  been  taken 
and  a  wharf 


ficient  in  is  copper.  It  is  said  that  the  copper  mines  in  New 
Jersey  are  good  ;  those  in  the  West  have  not  yet  proved  to  be 
worth  working.  Canada,  as  I  have  before  said,  is  as  yet  unex- 
plored, but  I  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  it  will  be  found 
rich  in  minerals,  especially  copper.  I  argue,  first,  from  its  ana- 
logy with  Russia,  which  abounds  in  that  metal ;  and  secondly, 
because  there  is  at  this  time,  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior,  a 
mass  of  native  copper  weighing  many  ton:?,  a  specimen  of  which 
I  have  had  in  my  hand.  We  must  not  forget  to  reckon,  among 
the  other  products  and  expected  resources  of  Canada,  the  furs 
obtained  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company.  Of  course,  if  the 
Canadas  are  wrested  from  us,  we  shall  have  to  depend  upon  the 
Americans  for  our  supply  of  this  necessary  article.  The  value 
in  Canada  of  the  furs  exported  to  this  country,  by  the  company, 
amounts,  as  I  have  observed  in  my  Diary,  to  about  a  million  and 
a  half  of  dollars. 

I  now  come  to  what  I  consider  will  be  the  most  important  ex- 
port from  the  Canadas.  I  have  stated  it  to  be  my  opinion  that 
Upper  Canada  will  be  the  first  corn  country  in  the  world,  and 
in  a  very  few  years  we  may  expect  that  she  will  export  largely 
into  this  country  ;  already  havmg  had  a  sAirplus  which  has  been 
sold  to  the  Americans.  It  must  be  recollected  that  America, 
who  used  to  supply  the  West-Indies  and  other  parts  of  the 
world  with  her  flour,  has,  for  these  last  few  years,  in  her  mania 
for  speculating,  neglected  her  crops,  and  it  is  only  during  these 
last  two  years  that  she  has  redirected  her  attention  to  the  tillage 

at  which  the  ore  brought  from  the  lake  ore  beds  is  landed,  and  from  thence 
carted  or  wheeled  up  to  the  ore  bank. 

"'Jit  a  distance  of  four  miles  by  water,  that  is  at  the  Crow  Lake,  in  the  town 
ship  of  Belmont,  J^ewcastle  District,  the  principal  ore  bed  occurs.  I  may  confine 
my  observations  respecting  this  ore  bed  to  the  qualities  and  varieties  of  the 
ores  to  be  found  there,  and  of  the  extent  of  the  deposit  give  you  an  idea,  by 
fancying  my  feelings  when  I  first  saw  the  mountain.  My  swrprise  was  great, 
and  my  first  conclusion  was,  that  it  would  be  more  than  sufficient  to  supply  the 
world  with  iron  for  ever.  'J'he  ore  here  is  in  great  variety  of  magnetic  ore, 
easily  quarried  ;  and,  in  fact,  it  can  be  quarried,  loaded,  and  transported  to  the 
works,  roasted  on  the  ore  bank,  broken  up  into  particles,  and  put  upon  the 
furnace,  at  an  expense  not  exceeding  2s.  Gd.  per  ton  ;  as  I  observed  it  is  strongly 
magnetic,  and  although  mixed  considerably  with  sulphur,  it  is  easily  freed 
from  that  deleterious  mineral  by  exposure  to  the  atmosphere,  and  to  the  action 
of  air  and  frost,  and  by  this  species  of  evaporation. a  new  and  valuable  com- 
modity could  be  procured  in  great  quantities,  namely,  the  copperas  of  com- 
merce. 

"  W^ith  a  boat  of  fifty  tons  burthen— and  there  is  depth  of  water  enough  for  a 
74  gun  ship  from  the  wb  rfat  the  works,  to  this  mountain  of  ore— navigated  by 
four  men,  150  tons  of  ore  could  be  brought  down  in  two  days— so  readily  is  it 
quarried,  and  so  handily  put  on  board.  Intermediate  to  this  bed  an<l  the  works, 
several  other  deposites  of  iron  are  discovered— one  of  a  superior  quality,  sur- 
passing in  magnetic  power  any  other  ore  yet  discovered,  possessing  what  mine- 
ralogists call  polarity ;— and  near  to  this,  meadow  and  bog  ore,  not  a  mile 
distant  from  the  works,  is  to  be  found  in  great  quantities.  The  works  are  to 
the  north-north-east  and  eastward,  surrounded  by  beds  of  ore,  of  which  five 
have  been  tried  aiul  brought  into  use— but  as  they  are  inland,  and  consequently 
more  expensively  procured,  they  merit  but  this  passing  observation,  that  in 
quantity  and  quality  they  are  valuable. 

"  For  the  present  I  am,  Sir, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

" Engineer ." 


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V 


lil2 


MARRY  AT  S  DIART. 


of  her  land.  She  will  now  no  longrer  require  assistance  from 
Upper  Canada,  and  the  yearly  increasing  corn-produce  of  that 
province  must  find  a  market  elsewhere.  After  supplying  the 
wants  of  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick,  this  surplus  will  find 
its  way  into  this  country.  As  the  population  of  Upper  Canada 
increases,  so  will  of  course  her  growth  of  wheat  be  greater,  and 
in  a  very  few  years,  we  have  reason  to  expect  that  there  will 
be  not  only  a  constant,  but  even  a  more  than  requisite,  exporta- 
tion of  corn  to  this  country.  Now  what  will  be  the  effect? 
Corn  from  Canada  is  admitted  at  a  fixed  duty  of  5s.  per  quarter, 
therefore  as  soon  as  the  supply  from  thence  is  sufficient,  the  corn 
laws  will  be  virtually  repealed,  that  is  to  say,  they  will  be  ex- 
changed for  a  permanent  duty  of  5s.  per  quarter. 

I  think  that  the  remarks  I  have  made  will  incline  the  reader 
to  agree  with  me,  that  the  reduction  of  the  duties  on  timber  will 
be  a  real  boon  to  all  parties :  to  the  Canadians,  because  at  the 
same  time  that  the  supplies  of  lumber  to  the  West  Indies  and 
elsewhere  will  give  a  certain  profit,  they  will  no  longer  have 
the  true  interests  of  the  colony  sacrificed  for  the  benefit  of  par- 
ties at  home;  to  the  mother  country,  because  it  will  relieve  the 
expenses  of  the  builder,  lessen  house-rent  and  agricultural  ex- 
penses, and  at  the  same  time  increase  the  revenue; — to  the 
ship-owner,  as  it  will  enable  him  to  build  much  cheaper,  and  to 
compete  more  successfully  with  foreign  vessels,  with  the  pros- 
pect also  of  the  carrying  trade  soon  reviving,  and  the  freight  of 
the  corn  proving  an  indemnification  to  him  for  the  loss  of  that 
on  the  timber.  That  a  few  interested  individuals  would  com- 
plain is  undoubted,  but  it  is  high  time  that  a  monopoly  so  inju- 
rious in  every  point,  should  be  removed ;  and  the  profits  of  a  few 
speculators  are  not  to  be  for  a  moment  considered,  when  opposed 
both  to  the  interests  of  the  colony  and  of  the  nation. 

I  may  as  well  here  remark  that  it  would  only  be  an  act  of 
justice  to  the  provinces,  and  no  less  so  to  ourselves,  to  take  off 
the  prohibitions  at  present  in  force  against  the  importation  of 
goods  from  France  and  other  countries.     The  boon  itself  would 
be  small,  but  still  it  would  be  a  stimulus  to  enterprise,  and  the 
time  has  gone  by  for  Kngland  to  impose  such  restrictions  on  her 
colonies.     I  say  that  we  should  lose  nothing,  because  all  these 
articles  are  imported  by  the  Americans ;  and  if  the  Canadians 
wish  to  procure   them,  they  can  obtain  them  immediately  at 
Buffalo,  and  other  American  towns  bordering  on  the  lakes.     At 
present,  therefore,  all  the  profits  arising  from  these  importations 
go  into  the  pockets  of  the  Americans,  who  are  the  only  parties 
benefited  by  our  restrictive  laws.     We  should  therefore  remove 
them. 

I  shall  now  support  the  arguments  in  this  chapter,  touching 
the  relative  value  of  the  corn  and  the  timber  trade  to  the  Cana- 
das,  by  some  extracts  from  the  evidence  given  in  the  Report  of 
the  Committee  on  the  Timber  Duties. 

Q.  "  Have  you  ever  formed  an  opinion  of  what  rate  per  quar- 


MARRY  AT  S   DIARY. 


213 


pros- 


ter  wheat  could  be  exported  to  this  country,  so  as  to  yield  a 
profit  to  the  exporter! — A.  I  cannot  call  it  to  mind  accurately, 
but  I  think  the  estimate  I  once  made  was  between  4()s.  and  50s. 

Q.  "  Would  it  not  follow  that,  unless  the  price  of  wheat  in 
this  country  were  to  rise  to  40s.  or  50s.  per  quarter,  the  popula- 
tion that  your  former  answer  would  transfer  from  the  timber 
trade  to  the  agricultural  would  not  be  able  advantageously  to 
employ  themselves  ]  — A.  No ;  I  do  not  think  it  follows  neces- 
sarily. If  all  our  population  were  devoted  to  agriculture,  our 
settlements  would  be  more  dense,  and  their  roads  more  perfect ; 
in  fact,  all  the  social  offices  more  perfectly  fulfilled;  which 
would  enable  them  to  bring  their  wheat  to  market  at  a  more 
moderate  price,  and  thus  they  might  obtain  a  larger  profit  even 
with  a  lower  price.  We  should  bear  in  mind,  in  relation  to 
their  agricultural  produce,  that  the  farmer  of  course  first  feeds 
his  own  family,  and  that  price  affects  him  so  far  as  it  relates  to 
his  surplus  produce,  and  that  price  rather  affects  his  luxuries 
than  his  means  of  subsistence.  I  am  not  aware  that  the  present 
prices  would  prevent  a  farmer  obtaining  that  return  which 
would  enable  him  to  purchase  at  least  all  his  necessaries. 

Q.  "  What  do  you  suppose  is  the  average  expense  of  the  con- 
veyance of  wheat  from  the  remote  parts  of  Canada  to  Montreal? 
— A.  I  believe  the  cost  of  bringing  wheat  from  Niagara  to  Mon- 
treal was  about  Ibd.  colonial  currency,  but  I  am  not  certain;  it 
is  not  now  lower.  I  once  made  a  table  showing  the  cost  of 
taking  produce  of  all  kinds  from  three  points  on  Lake  Ontario 
and  on  Lake  Erie,  and  sending  up  articles  to  the  same  places. 

Q.  "  What  is  the  freight  from  Quebec  to  England  ? — A.  The 
ordmary  rate  has  been  from  8s.  to  8s,  6d.  a  quarter  for  wheat. 

Q.  "  Do  you  know  the  price  of  wheat  in  this  country  ? — A.  \ 
believe  the  last  average  was  40s. 

Q  "If  at  40s.  you  would  probably  allow  10s.  a  quarter,  by 
your  present  statement,  as  a  fair  deduction  for  the  expense  of 
bringing  it  into  this  market  J — A.  I  should  think  so. 

Q,  "  Do  you  think  the  price  of  30s.  would  pay  the  agricultural 
producer  in  Canada  for  the  production  of  wheat;  would  afford  a 
return  for  the  investment  of  capital  in  the  production  of  wheat 
in  Canada  ? — A.  I  should  be  loth  to  speak  to  a  point  on  which  I 
have  not  sufficient  knowledge. 

Q.  "  Is  it  not  indispensable  to  tbrm  an  opinion  upon  that  point 
to  justify  the  opinion  you  have  already  given  ? — A.  I  think  not. 
I  have  that  feeling,  that  the  consequence  of  their  not  having  the 
timber  trade  would  be,  that  they  would  produce  other  articles, 
and  that  their  condition  would  not  be  deteriorated.  I  am  led  to 
that  conclusion  by  seeing  the  present  condition  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  which  once  depended  on  the  timber  trade;  I  look 
also  to  Vermont ;  and  when  every  man  tells  me  that  he  laments 
and  has  lamented  that  he  ever  meddled  with  the  timber  trade,  I 
think  that  I  am  justified  in  my  opinion,  for  no  one  will  pretend 
to  state  that  the  land  of  Vermont,  or  even  of  New  York,  equals 


•MM 


1 1 


M  i 


214 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


!f>'     15' 


that  of  Canada.  While  speakintr  of  the  soil  of  Canada,  I  would 
observe  that  Jacobs  has  estimated  the  averasre  return  for  wheat 
dn  the  Continent  at  four  to  one,  of  Great  Britain  seven  to  one, 
and  Gourlay  has  estimated  the  return  of  Upper  Canada  at  <ioen^^ 
to  one.  Many  state  that  Upper  Canada  is  unrivalled  in  compa- 
rison with  any  other  piece  of  land  of  equal  extent. 

Q.  "  Are  you  aware  of  the  extent  of  exportation  of  agricul- 
tural produce  from  Canada! — A.  I  am  ;  I  can  slate  it  from  me- 
mory. The  largest  quantity  of  wheat  exported  in  any  year  was 
in  1831,  and  I  think  amounted  to  1,300,000  bushels. 

Q.  "Can  you  make  the  same  statement  with  reference  to 
corn  and  provisions  as  to  other  articles?— A.  Canada  exports  a 
great  deal  of  corn. 

Q.  "  Which  Canada  ? — A.  Both  Upper  and  Lower  Canada. 

Q.  "  Does  Lower  Canada  grow  corn  enough  tor  her  own  eon- 
sumption] — A.  I  should  think  Lower  Canada  did,  and  more. 

Q.  "  Does  Upper  Canada] — A.  Upper  Canada  a  great  deal 
more. 

Q.  "Have  you  the  amount  of  the  exports] — A.  I  have  the 
exports  of  1833  ;  the  two  Canadas  exported  650,000  bushels  of 
wheat. 

Q.  "  How  much  flour  ]— A.  About  91,000  barrels. 

Q.  "  Have  you  any  account  of  the  imports  of  flour  from  the 
United  States  into  Lower  Canada] — A.  I  have  not  with  me; 
but  can  give  it  very  nearly. 

Q.  "  Do  those  exports  of  which  you  have  spoken  just  now 
comprehend  the  United  States  flour  ] — A.  No,  they  are  exclu- 
sive of  Colonial  production. 

Q.  "  Is  not  Lower  Canada,  as  well  as  Upper  Canada,  in  the  habit 
of  supplying  herself,  to  a  certain  degree,  with  American  flour  and 
wheat,  and  exporting  her  own  produce,  on  account  of  the  state  of 
the  corn  laws  last  year] — A.  Yes,  it  is  done  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent. I  have  some  indication  as  to  the  quantity  which  comes 
from  the  United  States  into  Upper  and  Lower  Canada  being 
small.  In  the  returns  of  the  traffic  last  year  through  our  Wel- 
land  Canal,  about  265,000  bushels  of  wheat  passed  through,  of 
which  18,000  British  and  22,000  American  only  went  to  Mon- 
treal. AH  the  rest  went  to  Oswego,  for  the  New  York  market: 
but  the  destination  in  future  will  probably  depend  upon  whether 
the  internal  communication  is  improved  in  those  colonies,  and 
on  the  state  of  the  market  in  New  York  and  in  the  Canadas. 

Q.  "  If  there  is  sufficient  capital,  is  there  any  reason  to  sup- 
pose it  would  not  be  beneficial  to  engage  in  both] — A.  I  do  not 
think  it  is  a  question  concerning  the  abundance  of  capital,  but 
the  good  to  be  derived  from  the  preservation  of  the  Canada  tim- 
ber trade  by  enormous  protecting  duties.  I  am  confident  that 
the  timber  trade  is  inimical  to  the  best  interests  of  the  Canadas; 
it  would  be  possible  to  make  the  timber  trade  more  beneficial 
than  any  other  pursuit  in  the  country,  and  the  way  to  render  it 
so  would  be  to  give  immense  protecting  duties  to  the  timber 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


215 


trade  of  Canada,  allowing  all  other  articles  of  produce  to  be  open 
to  general  competition ;  but,  by  such  a  course,  England  would 
not  be  benefiting  Canada. 

Q.  "Can  you  state  the  average  prices  of  wheat  at  Quebec 
the  last  four  or  five  years? — A.  I  think  5s.  or  6s.  Canadian  cur- 
rency ;  the  latter  rate  is  equal  to  5s.  sterling,  which  is  40s.  a 
quarter;  but  I  do  not  suppose  an  average  of  several  years  would 
be  over  4s.  2^^,  that  would  be  33s.  4t?.  There  are  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances that  attended  the  last  three  or  tour  yearcs. 

Q.  "Has  it  been  higher  the  last  three  or  four  years  than  the 
three  or  four  years  previously  1 — A.  Considerably  higher  than 
the  ten  years  previously. 

Q.  "  Do  you  think  30s.  a  quarter  would  have  been  the  ave- 
rage of  the  ten  years  preceding] — A.  I  should  think  so,  but  I 
cannot  now  speak  positively. 

Q.  "  Are  the  committee  to  understand  it  to  be  your  opinion, 
that  if  the  timber  establishments  were  broken  up  and  no  more 
timber  exported  from  Canada,  there  would  be  no  loss  to  that 
country  1 — A.  There  might  be  an  immediate  loss,  and  a  very 
great  subsequent  gain,  I  think  there  would  be  an  immediate 
loss  attending  on  the  mills,  possibly  £150,000  to  £200,000. 

Q.  "  Has  it  not  been  the  fact  that  there  has  been  a  constant 
and  gradual  increase  of  tonnage  into  Quebec  for  the  last  fifteen 
years! — A.  Yes. 

Q.  "  Presuming  that  those  establishments  were  to  be  broken 
up  and  no  more  timber  exported,  do  you  think  that  gradual  in- 
crease would  still  continue  1 — A.  No ;  the  first  consequence,  I 
think,  very  possibly  would  be  a  very  material  decrease. 

Q.  "  Subsequently  the  same  tonnage  would  be  required  for 
the  carriage  of  corn  as  at  present  ] — A.  Some  years  hence,  for 
corn  and  other  articles." 


CHAPTER  III. 

To  one  who  has  a  general  knowledge  of  the  various  English 
colonies,  to  which  emigration  is  constantly  taking  place,  it  ap- 
pears very  strange  that  people  should  emigrate  to  such  coun- 
tries as  New  South  Wales,  Van  Dieman's  Land,  and  New  Zea- 
land, when  Upper  Canada  is  comparatively  so  near  to  them,  and 
affording  every  advantage  which  a  seltler  could  wish.  Of  course 
the  persuasion  of  interested  parties,  and  their  own  ignorance, 
prevent  them  from  ascertaining  the  truth.  Indeed,  the  reports 
upon  Upper  Canada  are  occasionally  as  highly  coloured  as  those 
relative  to  the  other  colonies,  and  nothing  but  an  examination 
of  the  country,  I  may  say  a  certain  period  of  residence  in  it,  can 
enable  you  to  ascertain  the  real  merits  of  the  case.  I  have  nei- 
ther land  nor  interest  in  Upper  Canada,  and,  therefore,  my  evi- 
dence on  the  question  may  be  considered  as  impartial ;  and  I  do 


MS!' 


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Si'lf 


216 


MARRYAT  8  DIARY. 


not  hesitate  to  assert  that  Upper  Canada  promises  more  advan- 
tages to  the  settler  than  any  other  English  colony,  or  any  por- 
tion whatever  of  the  United  States. 

I  shall  now  make  a  few  remarks  upon  emigration  to  that  pro- 
vince, and  point  out  what  the  settler  will  have  to  expect.  I 
have  read  many  works  upon  the  subject ;  they  are  very  inaccu- 
rate, and  hold  out  to  the  emigrant  brilliant  prospects,  which  are 
seldom  or  never  realised.  The  best  work,  independently  of  its 
merits  as  a  novel,  is  "  Laurie  Todd,"  by  Mr.  Gait.  And  first,  I 
address  myself  to  the  poor  man  who  goes  out  with  only  twenty 
or  thirty  pounds  in  his  pocket. 

If  he  credit  the  works  written  to  induce  people  to  emigrate, 
all  that  he  has  to  do  is  to  build  his  log-hut,  clear  his  land,  and 
in  three  years  be  an  independent  man. 

It  is  true  that  he  can  purchase  fitly  acres  of  land  for  one  hun- 
dred dollars,  or  twenty-five  pounds  ;  that  he  has  only  to  pay  one- 
tenth  part  of  the  sum  down,  which  is  two  pounds  ten  shillings 
sterling.  It  is  true  that  he  will  collect  a  Bee,  as  it  is  termed, 
or  a  gathering  of  neighbours  to  run  up  the  frame  of  his  house ; 
but,  nevertheless,  possessing  his  fifty  acres  of  land  and  his  log- 
house,  he  will  in  all  probability  be  starved  out  the  very  first 
year,  especially  if  he  has  a  family. 

To  a  poor  man,  a  family  is  eventually  of  immense  value.  As 
soon  as  he  has  fairly  settled,  the  more  children  he  has  the  faster 
he  will  become  rich ;  but  on  his  first  arrival,  they  will,  if  not 
able  to  work  for  themselves,  be  a  heavy  burthen.  If,  however, 
they  can  do  any  thing,  so  as  to  pay  for  their  board  and  lodging, 
he  will  not  be  at  any  expense  for  them,  as  there  is  employment 
for  every  body,  even  for  children. 

The  only  article  I  should  recommend  him  to  take  out  from 
England  is  a  good  supply  of  coarse  clothing  tor  his  tiimily  ;  if  he 
would  take  out  a  venture,  let  it  be  second-hand  clothes,  and  he 
will  double  his  money  if  he  sells  them  by  auction,  for  clothes 
are  the  most  expensive  article  in  Canada.  I  once  saw  some 
cast-off*  clothes  sold  by  an  acquaintance  of  mine  in  Upper  Cana- 
da ;  a  Jew  in  England  would  not  have  given  five  pounds  for  the 
lot,  yet,  sold  at  auction,  they  cleared  twenty-five  pounds,  all  ex- 
penses paid.  He  cannot,  therefore,  take  out  too  much  clothing, 
but  the  coarser  and  more  common  it  is  the  better,  Let  him 
supply  himself  from  the  old  clothes  shops,  or  the  cheap  stores. 
New  clothes  will  soon  become  old  when  he  works  hard.  Hav- 
ing made  this  provision,  let  him  buy  nothing  else ;  but  change 
his  money  into  sovereigns  and  keep  it  in  his  pocket. 

As  sooH  as  he  arrives  at  Quebec,  he  must  ^'^se  no  time  in  taking 
the  steamboat  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  ;  numg  near  to  where 
he  has  decided  upon  locating.  If  he  hcs  made  no  decision,  at 
all  events  let  him  leave  the  city  immediately,  and  get  into  the 
country,  for  there  he  will  get  work  and  spend  less  money.  In- 
stead of  thinking  of  making  a  purchase  of  land,  let  him  give  up 
all  thoughts  of  it  for  a  year  or  two ;  but  hire  himself  out,  and 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


217 


his  wife  and  cliildren  also,  if  he  can.  If  he  is  a  good  man,  he 
will  receive  four  pounds  a  month,  or  forty-eight  pounds  a  year, 
with  his  board  and  lodging.  The  major  part  of  this  he  will  be 
able  to  lay  by.  If  his  wife  must  stay  at  home  to  take  care  of 
the  children,  still  let  her  work  ;  work  is  always  to  be  found,  and 
ahe  may  not  only  support  herself  and  children,  but  assist  his 
fund.  By  the  time  that  he  has  been  eighteen  months  or  two 
years  in  the  country,  he  will  have  his  eyes  open,  know  the  value 
of  every  thing,  and  will  not  be  imposed  upon  as  he  would  have 
been  had  he  taken  a  farm  immediately  upon  his  arrival.  lie 
will  have  laid  by  a  sufficient  sum  for  him  to  begin  with,  and  he 
will  have  become  acquainted  with  the  mode  of  farmimg  in  the 
country,  which  is  very  different  from  what  he  has  been  used 
to  in  the  old.     He  may  then  go  on  and  prosper. 

The  next  description  of  emigrant  settler  to  which  I  shall  ad- 
dress myself  is  he  who  comes  out  with  a  small  capital,  say  from 
two  hundred  to  five  hundred  pounds;  a  sum  sufficient  to  enable 
him  to  commence  farming  at  once,  but  not  sufficient  to  allow 
him  to  purchase  or  stock  a  farm  which  has  a  portion  of  the  land 
already  cleared.  The  government  lands  fetch  at  auction  about 
ten  shillings  an  acre,  and  they  are  paid  for  by  instalments,  one- 
tenth  down,  and  one-tenth  every  year,  with  interest,  until  the 
whole  be  paid ;  of  course,  he  may  pay  it  all  at  once,  if  he  pleases, 
and  save  the  interest.  He  must  not  purchase  more  than  four 
liundred  acres.  He  can  always  procure  more  if  he  is  success- 
ful. His  first  instalment  to  government  for  the  purchase  of  four 
hundred  acres  will  be  eighty  dollars. 

His  next  object  is  to  have  a  certain  portion  of  his  land  cleared 
for  him.  The  price  varies  according  to  the  size  and  quantity  of 
the  portion  ;  but  you  may  say,  at  the  highest,  it  will  cost  about 
sixteen  dollars  an  acre.  liOt  him  clear  ten  acre?,  and  then 
build  his  house  and  barns.  I  will  make  two  estimates,  between 
which  he  may  decide  according  to  his  means. 

Estimate  1. 

Dollars. 

Instalment  to  Government. 80 

Shinsflehouso 400 

Furnittire ]flO 

Harns  and  sheds 400 

Ten  acres  clearing 3(50 

Oxen  80 

Cow 20 

Pigs  and  Poultry -         2<1 

Plough,  Harrow,  &c. -20 

Seed 50 

Horse  and  Wagon. loo 

About  i;:«io 1,4:^0 

To  this  (if  you  have  no  family  akie  to  work)  for  a  man  and  his 

wife :U)0 

Expenses  of  living   he  first  year auo 

je400 I,y30 

19,  "' 


■v\ 


218 


MARRYAT  8  DIAKf. 


il 

1'  ! 

*!'      ' 


!    l-i* 


i  i 


Esltmate  2. 

DoFIarv. 

Instalment  to  Government HO 

liOg-hoiise  and  Furniture ICO 

Barn 60 

JMearing I«0 

O.xnn PO 

Cow '.'0 

risfs  and  Poultry 20 

Plough,  Harrow,  &c. 20 

S.od 50 

Horse  and  Wagon      .       .       - loo 

X150 cm 

Bat  choosing  between  these  two  estimates,  according'  to  his 
means,  that  is,  by  reserving,  if  possible,  one  hundred  pounds 
for  contingencies,  he  has  every  chance  of  doing  well.  He 
must  bear  m  mind,  that  although  every  year  his  means  will  in- 
crease, he  must  not  cripple  himself  by  an  outlay  of  all  his 
money  at  first  starting.  After  the  first  year,  he  will  be  able  to 
support  himself  and  family  from  the  farm.  I  have  pot  every 
thing  at  the  outside  expense,  that  he  may  not  be  deceived ;  but 
he  must  not  expend  all  his  capital  at  once;  his  horse  or  oxen 
may  die — his  crops  may  partially  fail — he  may  have  severe  ill- 
ness— all  these  contingencies  must  be  provided  against. 

But  the  settler  who  goes  out  under  the  most  favourable  cir- 
cumstances, is  the  one  who  has  one  thousand  pounds  or  more, 
and  who  can,  therefore,  purchase  a  farm  of  from  two  hundred 
to  four  hundred  acres,  with  a  portion  cleared,  and  a  house  and 
offices  ready  built.  These  are  always  to  be  had,  for  there  are 
people  in  the  Canadas,  as  in  America,  who  have  pleasure  in 
selling  their  cleared  land,  and  going  again  into  the  bush.  These 
farms  are  often  to  be  purchased  at  the  rate  of  from  five  to  ten 
dollars  per  acre  for  the  whole,  cleared  and  uncleared.  In  this 
case  all  the  difficulties  have  been  smoothed  away  for  him,  and 
all  that  he  has  to  do  is,  to  be  industrious  and  sober. 

When  I  was  at  London,  on  the  river  Thames,  (in  Upper  Ca- 
nada I  mean),  I  might  have  purchased  a  farm,  lying  on  the 
banks  of  that  river,  of  four  hundred  acres,  seventy  of  them 
cleared,  and  the  rest  covered  with  the  finest  oak  timber,  with  a 
fine  water-power,  and  a  saw-mill  in  full  work,  a  good  house,  barn, 
and  out-buildings  and  kitchen  garden,  for  six  hundred  pounds.  In 
ten  years  this  property  will  be  worth  more  than  -six  thousand 
pounds ;  and  in  twenty  more,  if  the  country  improves  as  fast  as 
it  does  now,  at  least  fifteen  thousand  pounds. 

In  looking  out  for  a  property  in  Canada,  always  try  to  obtain 
a  water-power,  or  the  means  of  erecting  one,  by  damming  up 
any  swift  stream ;  its  value  will,  in  a  few  years,  be  very  great; 
and  never  consider  a  few  dollars  an  acre  more,  if  you  have 
trai  iDort  by  water,  or  are  close  to  a  good  market.  You  must 
look  forward  to  what  the  country  will  be,  not  to  what  it  is  at 
present. 

Half-pay  officers  settle  in  Upper  Canada  with  great  advan- 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


219 


Dollar*. 

HO 
IGO 

fU) 
I(U> 

8(» 

'JO 

20 

20 

50 
100 

■    090 

ng  to  his 
id  pounds 
ell.  He 
IS  will  in- 
i>f  all  his 
be  able  to 
put  every 
sived;  but 
36  or  oxen 
severe  ill- 
it. 

irable  cir- 
3  or  more, 
0  hundred 
house  and 

there  are 
leasure  in 
sh.  These 
five  to  ten 
In  this 

him,  and 

Upper  Ga- 
ng on  the 
y  of  them 
ler,  with  a 
lOuse,  barn, 
pounds.  In 
thousand 
as  fast  as 

y  to  obtain 
mming  up 
ery  great ; 
^  you  have 
You  must 
at  it  is  at 

eat  ad van- 


tages,  arising  from  the  circumstance,  that  their  annual  pay  is 
always  a  resource  to  fall  back  upon.  A  very  small  capital  is 
sufficient  in  this  case;  and,  if  prudent,  they  gradually  rise  to 
inde{>endence,  if  not  to  wealth  There  are,  however,  one  or  two 
cautions  to  be  given  to  these  gentlemen.  Never  go  into  the 
bush  it' you  can  help  it:  accustomed  to  society,  you  will  find 
the  total  loss  of  it  too  serious.  If  you  have  a  wife  and  large 
family,  they  may  partially  compensate  for  the  loss,  but  even  then 
it  is  better  to  locate  yourself  near  a  small  town.  If  you  are  a 
single  man  and  sit  down  in  the  bush,  you  are  lost.  Hundreds 
have  done  so,  and  the  result  has  been,  that  they  have  resorted  to 
intemperance,  and  have  died  mined  men. 

But  the  settlers  most  required  in  Upper  Canada,  and  those 
who  would  reap  the  most  golden  harvest,  are  men  of  capital; 
when  1  say  capital,  I  mean  those  who  possess  a  sum  of  four  or 
five  thousand  pounds — a  sum  very  inadequate  to  support  a  per- 
son in  England  who  has  been  born  and  bred  as  a  gentleman ;  but 
in  Canada,  with  such  a  sum,  he  can  not  only  farm,  but  speculate 
to  great  advantage.  At  present  the  Americans  go  over  there 
every  year,  and  realise  large  sums  of  money.  Indeed,  capital 
is  so  much  required  in  Upper  Canada,  and  may  be  employed  to 
such  advantage,  that  I  wonder  people,  with  what  may  be  con- 
sidered as  small  capitals  here,  do  not  go  over.  The  only  caution 
to  give  them  is,  not  to  be  in  a  hurry ;  in  the  course  of  a  year  or 
two  they  will  understand  what  they  are  about,  and  then  they 
will  soon  become  wealthy. 

When  I  arrived  at  Toronto,  I  was  called  upon  by  an  old  friend 
who  had  often  shot  with  me  in  Norfolk.  His  father  had  once  set 
him  up  in  business,  but  the  house  failed.  He  resolved  to  go  out 
to  Canada,  and  his  father  gave  him  a  thousand  pounds  as  a  start, 
and  allowed  him  two  hundred  pounds  a  year  afterwards.  He 
had  been  in  the  country  seven  years  when  we  met  again.  I 
accepted  his  invitation  to  dine  and  sleep  at  his  house,  which  was 
about  seven  miles  from  the  town.  He  sent  handsome  saddle 
horses  over  for  three  of  us.  I  found  him  located  on  a  beautiful 
farm  of  about  four  hundred  acres,  the  major  portion  of  it  cleared; 
his  house  was  a  very  elegantly  built  cottage  ornee ,  every  thing 
had  the  appearance  of  a  handsome  English  country  residence; 
he  had  married  a  beautiful  woman  of  one  of  the  first  families. 
We  sat  down  to  an  excellent  dinner,  and,  in  every  respect,  the 
whole  set-out  was  equal  to  what  you  generally  meet  with  in 
good  society  in  England.  He  was  really  living  in  luxury.  We 
returned  the  next  day,  in  a  handsome  carriage  and  as  fine  a  pair 
of  horses  as  one  would  wish  to  see. 

I  could  hardly  credit  that  all  this  could  have  been  accumulated 
in  seven  years — yet  such  was  the  case,  and  it  was  not  a  singu- 
lar one ;  for  the  whole  road  from  his  farm  to  Toronto  was  lined 
with  similar  farms  and  handsome  houses,  belonging  to  gentlemen 
who  had  emigrated,  forming  among  themselves,  a  very  exten- 
sive and  most  delightful  society. 


.! 

I 


I 


M 


f\ 


■Ir: 


220 


MARRYAT  8  DIARY. 


Altliougli  tliey  do  not  go  ahead  ns  fast  as  rouip  of  the  Ameri- 
ciui  citicH,  (for  instnnce,  aa  BuHiilo,)  ftill  Upper  Canada  1ms, 
within  the  last  ten  or  fitleen  years,  taken  a  surprisinjif  start,  and 
will  now,  if  judiciously  governed,  increase  in  wealth  almost  ap 
fast  as  any  of  the  American  States.  About  Toronto,  most  of  the 
oontlemen  have  incomes  of  from  seven  hundred  to  filloen  hun- 
dred pounds  per  annum,  and  keep  handsome  equipages ;  but  there 
are  many  other  towns  which  have  lately  risen  up  very  rapidly^. 
Peterborough  is  an  instance  of  this.  "  Peterborough  in  1625 
contained  but  one  miserable  dwelling ;  now,  in  IKW,  may  be 
seen  nearly  four  hundred  houses,  many  of  them  large  and  hand- 
some, inhabited  by  about  fitleen  hundred  persons;  a  very  neat 
stone  church,  capable  of  accommodating  eight  hundred  or  nine 
hundred  persons,*  a  Presbyterian  church  of  stone,  two  dissenting 
places  of  worship,  and  a  Roman  Catholic  church  in  progress. 
The  town  has  in  or  near  it,  two  grist,  and  seven  saw-mills,  five 
distilleries,  two  breweries,  two  tanneries,  eighteen  or  twenty 
shops  (called  stores),  carriage,  sleigh,  wagon,  chair,  harness, 
and  cabinet-makers  and  most  other  useful  trades.  Stages  run 
all  the  year,  bringing  mails  five  times  a  week  ;  and  steamboats 
whilst  the  navigation  is  open ;  there  is  one  good  tavern  (White's), 
and  two  inferior  ones.  Families  may  now  Ond  houses  of  any 
sizes  to  suit  them,  at  moderate  rents.  The  roads  in  this  neigh- 
bourhood are  being  greatly  improved.  The  towns  of  Cobourg, 
Port  Hope,  Colborne,  Grafton,  Brighton,  River  Trent,  and 
Beaumont  in  the  Newcastle  district,  are  ail  equally  prosperous, 
and,  like  Peterborough,  are  surrounded  by  genteel  families  from 
the  United  Kingdom  ;  in  short,  the  advancement  of  this  district 
is  almost  incredible." 

But  there  is  one  important  subject  relative  to  emigration  which 
must  be  considered;  if  it  be,  as  T  trust  my  readers  will  be  in- 
clined to  think  with  me,  a  national  question,  it  is  highly  expe- 
dient that  it  should  be  not  only  assisted,  but  controlled  by  go- 
vernment. At  present  the  mortality  is  tremendous ;  and  I  very 
much  question  whether  there  are  not  more  lives  sacrificed  in  the 
transport  of  the  emigrants,  than  subsequently  tiill  a  prey  to 
disease  in  the  western  States,  bordering  on  the  Mississippi. 
With  those  who  would  emigrate  to  the  United  States,  we  have 
nothing  to  do,  neither  do  they  so  much  require  our  sympathy. 
The  American  packets  are  good  vessels,  and  they  suffer  little ; 
and  when  they  land  at  New  York,  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia, 
the  charity  of  the  Americans  is  always  ready  for  their  relief. 

*  The  building  of  this  Church  was  undertaken  by  the  inhabitants  of  Peter- 
borough and  its  vicinity,  belonging  to  the  Church  of  England.  In  1835  it  was 
commenced,  and,  by  great  exertions,  opened  for  Divine  worship  in  December 
1836,  though  not  altogether  finished.  Nine  hundred  pounds  was  raised  by 
voluntary  contributions,  not  one  farthing  having  been  given  by  any  public 
body  to  it.  The  gentlemen  composing  the  building  committee  are  responsible 
for  the  remainder  due,  being  five  hundred  pounds.  An  advertisement  for  sub- 
scriptions to  liquidate  this  debt  has  been  for  some  weeks  past  inserted  in  n 
London  newspap<3r. 


MXRRYAT's  DUlt-^ 


221 


E?  Ameri- 
ada  Ims, 
tiirt,  and 
1 1  most  ap 
)Ht  of  the 
ecu  hun- 
3ut  there 

rapidly. 

in  1825 

may  be 
nd  hand- 
ery  noat 
I  or  nine 
issonting 
progress, 
lills,  five 
twenty 

liarnesSt 
ages  run 
Bamboats 
A^'hite's), 

s  of  any 
is  neigh- 
Cobourg, 
ent,  and 
osperous, 
lies  from 
[S  district 

on  which 
ill  be  in- 
h\y  expe- 
nd by  go- 
nd  I  very 
;ed  in  the 
a  prey  to 
ississippi. 
we  have 
ympathy. 
er  little; 
ladelphia, 
3ir  relief. 


ts  of  Peter- 
1835  it  was 
a  December 
s  raised  by 
any  public 
responsible 
ent  for  sub- 
serled  in  -a 


Dut  witli  the  poor  emigrants  who  wouK,  -^ett'j  in  '  mada,  the 
caae  is  very  different.  It  must  be  u^der^»ud,  that  le  Quebec 
trade  is  chiefly  composed  of  worn-out  and  unseawori  ly  vessels, 
which  cannot  find  employment  elisewhere;  for  a  vosbc;)  whic!  s 
in  sach  a  state  that  a  cargo  of  dry  goods  could  not  1x3  entrii'  S 
to  her,  is  still  sufficiently  serviceable  for  the  tiudwr  tnule—  *=, 
'allowing  her  bottom  to  be  out'  with  a  cargo  of  timber  she  >t' 
course  cannot  founder.  But  if  these  vessels  are  sufficiently  safe 
to  bring  timber  home,  they  are  not  sufficiently  good  vessels  to 
receive  three  or  four  hundred  emigrants  on  board.  liCaky,  bad 
sailers,  ill-found,  the  voyage  is  often  protracted,  and  the  suffer- 
ings of  the  poor  people  on  board  are  dreiidfid.  Fever  and  other 
diseases  break  out  among  ihem,  aud  tliey  often  arrive  at  Quebec 
with  sixty  or  seventy  people  who  arc  carried  to  the  hospital  in- 
dependently of  those  who  have  died  and  been  llirovvn  overboard. 

fcjometimes  their  provisions  do  not  last  out  Uie  voyage,  and 
they  are  obliged  to  purchase  of  the  captain  or  others  on  board, 
(who  have  prepared  for  the  exigence,)  and  thus  their  little  sav- 
ings to  recommence  life  with,  are  all  swallowed  up  to  support 
existence.  I  believe  that  what  they  suffer  is  dreadful ;  and  if 
ever  there  was  a  case  which  would  call  forth  patriotism  and 
sympathy,  it  is  the  hardships  of  these  poor  people.  Allowing 
emigration  not  to  be  a  national  question,  still  it  is  a  question  for 
national  humanity,  and  all  this  suffering  might  be  alleviated  at 
comparatively  a  very  trifling  expense. 

If  tv/o  or  three  of  our  smaller  linc-of-battle  ships  now  lying 
at  their  moorings,  were  to  be  jury-rigged,  without  any  guns  on 
board,  and  manned  with  a  sloop's  ship's  company,  they  would 
not  decay  faster  by  running  between  Quebec  and  this  country 
than  if  they  remained  in  harbour.  One  of  those  vessels  would 
carry  out  2,500  men,  women,  and  children.  Let  the  emigrants 
take  their  provisions  on  board,  and  should  their  provisions  fail 
them,  let  there  be  a  surplus  for  their  supply  at  the  cost  price. 
Under  this  arrangement,  you  would  have  that  order,  cleanliness, 
and  ventilation  which  would  insure  them  against  disease,  and 
proper  medical  attendance  if  it  should  bo  required  ;  you  would 
save  thousands  of  lives,  and  the  emigrant,  as  he  left  the  ship, 
would  feel  grateful  for  the  benefit  conferred.  But  the  assistance 
of  government  must  not  end  here:  the  emigrant,  on  his  arrival, 
is  adrifl;  he  knows  not  where  to  go;  he  has  no  resting-place; 
he  is  a  perfect  stranger  to  the  country  and  to  every  thing ;  he 
exhausts  his  means  before  he  can  find  employment  or  settle : 
other  arrangements  are  therefore  necessary,  if  the  work  of  cha- 
rity is  to  be  completed.  Indeed,  the  want  of  these  arrangements 
is  the  cause  of  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  Canadian  emi-> 
grants  leaving  our  provinces  and  settling  in  the  United  States, 
where  they  can  immediately  find  employment ;  and  Americans, 
agents  of  the  land  speculators,  are  continually  on  the  look-out 
in  Canada,  persuading  the  emigrants,  by  all  sorts  of  promises 

19* 


1% 


i;J 


»J2 


MARRYAT  n   DIART. 


r:  ^  i 


( 

i 

* 

\^    ■ 
1,    • 

\ 

V 

m 

l';,« 

and  indiicemontH,  to  leave  the  provinces  and  to  take  lands  in  the 
States,  belonj^ing  to  their  employers.  Every  emijjrant  lost  to  ud 
is  a  gam  to  America ;  and  upon  the  increase  of  the  English  po- 
pulation depends  the  prosperity  of  the  Canadas,  and  our  best 
chance  of  retaining  them  in  our  possession. 

Both  Upper  and  I^vver  Canada  have  one  great  advantage  over 
most  of  the  other  territories  of  the  United  States,  which  ih,  that 
they  are  so  very  healthy;  the  winters  in  both  provinces  are  dry, 
and,  in  Upper  Canada,  they  are  not  severe ;  and  the  sununers 
are  cool,  compared  with  those  of  the  United  States.  Indeed,  in 
point  of  climate,  they  cannot  be  surpassed  ;  and  I  rather  think, 
independently  of  its  tine  soil,  which  enables  it  to  grow  every 
thing  (for  even  tobacco  grows  well  in  Upper  Canada),  that  in 
mineral  richness  it  is  not  to  be  exceeded.  It  abounds  in  water- 
power,  and  has  several  splendid  rivers.  As  soon  as  the  roads 
arc  niade  (for  that  is  the  present  desideratum  in  the  Upper  Pro- 
vince), I  iiave  no  hesitation  in  asserting,  that  it  will  be,  of  all 
others,  the  most  favourable  spot  for  emigration.  It  is  a  man's 
own  fault  if,  with  common  industry,  he  does  not,  in  a  few  years, 
secure  competence  and  the  happiness  arising  from  independence, 
when  it  is  accompanied  by  that  greatest  of  all  blessings — 
health. 

There  has  been  so  strange  and  continued  a  system  of  misrule 
on  the  part  of  the  mother-country  with  respect  to  these  pro- 
vinces, that  I  am  not  surprised  at  any  thing  which  takes  place ; 
but  it  is  certain  that  the  emigration  to  the  Canadas  has  been 
very  much  checked  by  the  Government  itself. 

The  price  of  land  in  the  United  States  is  fixed  at  a  dollar  and 
a  quarter  per  acre ;  be  it  of  the  best  quality,  full  of  minerals,  or 
with  any  other  important  advantages,  the  price  is  still  the  same. 
The  set-up  price  in  Canada  is  two  dollars  per  acre.  If  no  more 
is  offered  it  is  sold  at  that  sum,  but  at  no  less.  Now,  whatever 
the  Government  may  imagine,  I  can  assure  them  that  this  dif- 
ference in  the  price  is  considered  very  important  by  those  who 
emigrate,  and  that  thousands  who  would  have  settled  in  Canada, 
have,  in  consequence,  repaired  to  the  United  States,  much  to 
our  disadvantage  ;  and  this  appears  so  contradictory,  as  the  Go- 
vernment have  very  unwisely  parted  with  enormous  tracts  of 
the  best  land,  selling  them  to  a  Company  at  a  price  which,  with 
facilities  for  payment,  reduces  the  price  paid  per  acre  by  this 
Company,  to,  I  think,  about  one  shilling  and  three-pence,  and  for 
which  the  Company  now  charge  the  same  price  as  the  Govern- 
ment ;  thus  giving  a  bonus  to  speculators  which  they  refuse  to 
those  who  wish  to  become  bona  fide  settlers.  I  never  could 
comprehend  the  grounds  upon  which  they  were  persuaded  to  so 
unwise  an  act  as  that.  The  lands  were  sold  to  the  Company 
before  the  present  Government  were  in  power,  but  why  the 
price  of  the  land  still  in  possession  of  the  Crown  should  be 
raised  higher  than  in  the  United  States  I  cannot  imagine. 
Sound  policy  would  reduce  it  lower,  for  the  increase  of  wealth 


MARRYAT  R    DIARY. 


223 


lis  in  tlie 
lost  to  ua 
iglish  po- 
our  bcBt 

fi^c  over 
h  iH,  that 
^  are  dry, 
suiinners 
ndend,  in 
er  think, 
>w  every 
),  that  in 
in  water- 
the  roads 
ppcr  Pro- 
be, of  all 
i  a  man's 
aw  years, 
)endence, 
essings — 

f  misrnle 
hese  pro- 
es  place ; 
has  been 

lollur  and 
nerals,  or 
the  same. 
r  no  more 
whatever 
this  dit- 
hose  who 
[1  Canada, 
much  to 
s  the  Go- 
tracts  of 
lich,  with 
re  by  this 
;e,  and  for 
e  Govern- 
refuse  to 
ver  could 
aded  to  so 
Company 
why  the 
should  be 
imagine, 
of  wealth 


in  tjio  province  must  ever  consist  in  the  increase  of  its  populu- 
tiorj. 

There  are  in  Upper  Canada  several  villages  of  free  negroes, 
vvho  have  (!ricaped  from  the  United  States,  and  should  it  be  con- 
si'lered  at  any  time  advisable  to  remove  any  of  the  West  Indian 
population,  it  would  be  very  wise  to  give  them  land  on  the 
Upper  Canada  frontif^rs.  The  negroes  thrive  tiiere  unconunonly 
well,  and  huvo  ac«[uired  habits  of  industry  ;  and,  as  niay  be  suj)- 
I  used,  are  Jiiost  inveterate  against  the  Americans,  as  was  proved 

tiie  late  diisturbances,  when  they  could  hardly  be  controlled. 
Tliey  imagine  (and  very  truly)  that  if  the  Americans  were  to 
obtain  possession  of  Canada,  that  they  would  return  to  slavery, 
and  it  is  certain  that  they  are  not  only  brave,  but  would  die  ra- 
ther than  be  taken  prisoners.  This  is  a  question  worth  consi- 
deration, as  out  of  an  idle  and  useless  race  in  the  West  Indies 
may  be  Ibrrned,  at  very  little  expense,  a  most  valuable  frontier 
population  to  these  provinces.  I  am  happy  to  percieve  that,  in 
the  Report  of  Lord  Durham,  the  importance  of  these  provinces 
to  the  mother  country  is  fully  acknowledged. 

"  These  interests  are  indeed  of  great  magnitude  ;  and  on  the 
course  which  your  Majesty  and  your  Parliament  may  adopt, 
witli  respect  to  the  North  American  colonies,  will  depend  the 
future  destinies,  not  only  of  the  million  and  a  half  of  your  Ma- 
jesty's subjects  who  at  present  inhabit  those  provinces,  but  of 
that  vast  population  which  those  ample  and  fertile  territories  are  fit 
and  destined  herealler  to  support.  No  portion  of  the  American 
continent  possesses  greater  natural  resources  for  the  maintenance 
of  large  and  flourishing  communities.  An  almost  boundless 
range  of  the  richest  soil  still  remains  unsettled,  and  may  be  ren- 
dered available  tor  the  purposes  of  agriculture.  The  wealth  of 
inexhaustible  forests  of  the  best  timber  in  America,  and  of  ex- 
tensive regions  of  the  most  valuable  minerals,  have  as  yet  been 
scarcely  touched.  Along  the  whole  line  of  sea-coast,  around 
each  island,  and  in  every  river,  are  to  be  found  the  greatest  and 
richest  fisheries  in  the  world.  The  best  fuel  and  the  most  abun- 
dant water-power  are  available  for  the  coarser  manufactures,  for 
which  an  easy  and  certain  market  will  be  found.  Trade  with 
other  continents  is  favoured  by  the  possession  of  a  large  number 
of  safe  and  spacious  harbours;  long,  deep,  and  numerous  rivers, 
and  vast  inland  seas,  supply  the  means  of  easy  intercourse ;  and 
the  structure  of  the  country  generally  affords  the  utmost  facility 
for  every  species  of  communication  by  land.  Unbounded  mate- 
rials of  agricultural,  commercial  and  manufacturing  industry  are 
there ;  it  depends  upon  the  present  decision  of  the  Imperial 
Legislature  to  determine  for  whose  benefit  they  are  to  be  ren- 
dered available.  The  country  which  has  founded  and  maintain- 
ed these  colonies  at  a  vast  expense  of  blood  and  treasure,  may 
justly  expect  its  compensation  in  turning  their  unappropriated 
resources  to  the  account  of  its  own  redundant  population :  they 
are  the  rightful  patrimony  of  the  English  people,  the  ample  ap* 


I) 


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1  ■   . 

ilf  ; 

If'  ■  '^li 


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n 


224 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


panuge  which  God  and  Nature  have  set  aside  in  the  New  World 
tor  those  whose  lot  has  assigned  them  but  insufficient  portion  in 
the  Old.  Under  wise  and  free  institutions,  these  great  advan- 
tages may  yet  be  secured  to  your  Majesty's  subjects ;  and  a  con- 
nexion, secured  by  the  link  of  kindred  origin  and  mutual  benefits, 
may  continue  to  bind  to  the  British  Empire  the  ample  territories 
of  its  North  American  provinces,  and  the  large  and  flourishing 
population  by  which  they  will  assuredly  be  filled." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Previous  to  my  entering  into  a  further  examination  of  the 
Canada  question,  it  will  perhaps  be  better  to  recapitulate,  in  as 
few  words  as  possible,  what  has  already  occurred,  and  the  prin- 
cipal causes  of  the  late  insurrection. 

When  the  Canadian  provinces  were  reduced  by  the  British 
arms,  the  inhabitants,  being  entirely  French,  were  permitted  to 
retain  their  own  laws,  their  own  language  in  courts  and  public 
offices,  and  all  their  vested  rights  which  had  been  granted  to 
them  by  the  French  government.  It  was  a  generous,  but,  as  it 
has  been  proved,  an  unwise  policy.  The  form  of  government, 
as  an  English  colony,  was  proposed,  and  acceded  to  by  the 
French  population,  who,  gratified  by  the  liberality  of  their  new 
rulers,  cheerfully  took  the  oath  of  allegiance.  For  many  years, 
indeed  it  may  be  said  until  the  close  of  the  war  of  1814,  the 
population  remained  almost  entirely  French.  England  had  been 
so  long  engaged  in  war,  and  the  annual  expenditure  of  life  in 
her  armies  and  her  navies  was  so  great,  that  she  could  not  per- 
mit, much  less  encourage,  emigration. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  of  1814,  the  census  of  the  population 
in  the  two  Canadian  provinces  was  as  follows : — In  Lower 
Canada,  between  three  and  four  hundred  thousand  ;  in  Upper 
Canada,  from  thirty  to  forty  thousand,  of  which  nineteen-twen- 
tieths  were  of  French  extraction.  But  the  emigration  during 
the  last  twenty-five  years  of  peace  has  made  a  considerable 
change.  The  population  of  Lower  Canada  has  increased  to  six 
hundred  thousand,  and  that  of  Upper  Canada  now  amounts  to 
upwards  of  four  hundred  thousand.  As  the  emigration  has  been 
almost  wholly  from  the  British  dominions,  it  may  be  now  fairly 
assumeu  that,  taking  the  two  provinces  together,  the  English 
and  French  population  are  now  on  a  par  us  to  numbers ;  the 
English  preponderate  in  the  Upper  province  as  much  as  the 
French  do  in  the  Lower  But  if  we  are  to  consider  the  two 
nations  of  settlers  as  to  their  respective  value  as  emigrants  to 
the  provinces,  on  the  point  of  capital,  industry,  and  enterprise, 
the  scale  will  descend  immediately  in  favour  of  the  English  po- 
pulation. The  French  are  inactive,  adverse  to  speculation,  or 
even  improvement.    Every  habitant  is  content  with  his  farm  as 


MAURYAT  S  DIARY. 


225 


handed  down  to  him  by  his  profrenitor,  and  the  higher  classes 
who  hold  the  sei^neuries  are  satisfied  with  tlieir  seignorial  rights 
and  tiie  means  of  exaction  which  they  afford  to  them.  The  pri- 
vileges of  these  seigneurs,  or  lords  of  the  manor,  in  Lower 
Canada,  arc  very  extensive,  and  a  bar  to  all  improvement  or  ad- 
vance. They  hold  the  exclusive  right  of  hunting  and  fishing; 
all  the  water  privileges,  such  as  the  erection  of  saw-mills,  &c., 
are  insured  to  them.  The  habitant  is  even  compelled  to  send 
his  flour  to  be  ground  at  the  mill  of  the  lord  of  the  ^manor.  At 
the  sale  of  every  property,  the  lord  of  the  manor  receives  one- 
twelfth  of  the  proceeds.  Thus,  if  a  farm  worth  a  few  hundred 
pounds  was  to  tall  into  the  hands  of  an  enterprising  man,  and  he 
was  to  raise  it  to  the  value  of  thousands,  more  than  the  prinip- 
cost  would  be  deducted  for  the  lord  of  the  manor  if  he  were 
compelled  to  part  with  i(.  This,  with  the  other  impediments  to 
enterprise,  has  left  Lower  Canada  in  a  state  of  quiescence,  and 
the  emigrants  who  have  gone  over  have  passed  it  by  that  they 
might  settle  on  the  more  fertile  and  free  province  of  Upper 
Canada.  One  o<^  the  writers  in  the  daily  press  of  New  York  has 
very  truly  remarked : — 

"  When  the  British  first  obtained  the  Canadas,  its  commerce 
consisted  of  a  few  peltries,  conveyed  to  France  by  the  vessels 
which  brought  out  the  troops  and  carried  back  the  disbanded 
regiments.  The  lumber  trade  was  unknown.  The  importa- 
tions were  a  nonentity.  While  at  present  many  hundreds  of 
vessels  are  engaged  in  the  direct  timber  trade,  and  more  than 
one  hundred  and  fifty  vessels  have  been  frequently  counted 
on  the  river  St.  Lawrence.  These,  it  must  be  remembered, 
are  almost  exclusively  owned  by  British  merchants ;  while 
the  French  Canadians  own  the  land  in  the  same  proportion 
as  the  English  do  the  trade." 

It  was  the  knowledge  of  these  facts,  and  that  the  English 
were  every  year  rising  in  importance,  (for  they  had  not  only 
secured  the  whole  trade,  but  were  gradually  occupying  the 
more  fertile  land  of  the  Upper  province,)  which  has  created  the 
jealousy  and  ill-will,  and  has  been  such  a  source  of  irritation 
to  the  French  inhabitants  of  the  Lower  province.  I  have  d-velt 
upon  these  facts  because  there  is  a  very  general  opinion  (which 
has  most  unfortunately  been  acted  upon  by  our  Government), 
that  the  legislature  of  the  province  should  be  guided  by  the 
interests  of  the  majority,  and  this  they  have  considered  to  be 
in  favour  of  the  French  population ;  whereas  in  numbers  they 
are  about  equal,  and  in  point  of  wealth  and  importance,  the 
English  population  are  mos*  decidedly  in  the  advance ;  besides 
that,  the  former  population  would  willingly  separate  them- 
selves from  the  mother-country,  and  therefore  deserve  but  little 
favour,  while  the  latter  ure  loyal  and  attached  to  it.  The 
French  having  the  ascendancy  of  five  to  one  in  the  Lower 
province,  have  done  all  they  can  to  check  improvement.  Public 
works  which  have  cost  large  sums,  have  remained  uncompleted. 


^if 


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B!J^: 


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Rls^  i 


220 


MARRY A-T  S  DIARY. 


because  the  House  of  Assembly  in  tlie  Lower  province  has 
refused  to  allow  them  to  be  carried  on.  Indeed,  had  the  Lower 
province  been  allowed  to  continue  in  her  career  of  opposition, 
she  would  have  eventually  rendered  diflficult  all  communication 
between  thd  Upper  province  and  the  mother-country. 

This  is  acknowledged  in  Lord  Durham's  report,  which  says — 
"  Without  going  so  far  as  to  accuse  the  Assembly  of  a  delibe- 
rate design  to  check  the  settlement  and  improvement  of  Lower 
Canada,  it  cannot  be  denied  that  they  looked  with  considerable 
jealousy  and  dislike  on  the  increase  and  prosperity  of  what  they 
regarded  as  a  foreign  and  hostile  race  ;  they  looked  on  *he  pro- 
vince as  the  patrimony  of  their  own  race ;  they  viewed  it  not  as 
a  country  to  be  settled,  but  as  one  already  settled  ;  and  instead 
of  legislating  in  the  American  spirit,  and  first  providing  for  the 
future  population  of  the  province,  their  primary  care  was,  in  the 
spirit  of  legislation  which  prevails  in  the  old  world,  to  guard  the 
interests  and  feelings  of  the  present  race  of  inhabitants,  to  whom 
they  considered  the  new  comers  as  subordinate  ;  they  refused  to 
increase  the  burthens  of  the  country  by  imposing  taxes  to  meet 
the  expenditure  required  for  improvement,  and  they  also  refused 
to  direct  to  that  object  any  of  the  funds  previously  devoted  to 
other  purposes.     The  improvement  of  the  harbour  of  Montreal 
was  suspended,  from  a  political  antipathy  to  a  leading  English 
merchant  who  had  been  the  most  active  of  the  commissioners, 
and  by  whom  it  had  been  conducted  with  the  most  admirable 
suceess.     It  is  but  just  to  say,  that  some  of  the  works  which  the 
Assembly  authorised  and  encouraged,  were  undertaken  on  a 
scale  of  due  moderation,  and  satisfactorily  perfected  and  brought 
into  operation.     Others,  especially  the  great  communications 
which  I  have  mentioned  above,  the  Assembly  showed  a  great 
reluctance  to  promote  or  even  to  permit.     It  is  true  that  there 
was  considerable   foundation  for  their  objections  to  the  plan 
on  which  the  Legislature  of  Upper  Canada  had  commenced 
some  of  these  works,  and  to  the  mode  in  which  it  had  carried 
them  on  ;  but  the  English  complained  that,  instead  of  profiting 
by  the  experience  which  they  might  have  derived  from  this 
source,  the  Assembly  seemed  only  to  make  its  objections  a  pre- 
text for  doing  nothing.     The  applications  for  banks,  railroads, 
and  canals  were  laid  on  one  side  until  some  general  measures 
could  be  adopted  with  regard  to  such  undertakings;  but  the 
general  measures  thus  promised  were  never  passed,  and  the  par- 
ticular enterprises  in  question  were  prevented.     The  adoption 
of  a  registry  was  refused,  on  the  alleged  ground  of  its  inconsis- 
tency with  the  French  institutions  of  the  province,  and  no  mea- 
sure to  attain  this  desirable  end  in  a  less  obnoxious  mode,  was 
prepared  by  the  leaders  of  the  Assembly.     The  feudal  tenure 
was  supported,  as  a  mild  and  just  provision  for  the  settlement  of 
a  new  country ;  a  kind  of  assurance  given  by  a  committee  of  the 
Assembly,  that  some  steps  should  be  taken  to  remove  the  most 
injurious  incidents  of  the  seignorial  tenure,  produced  no  practi- 


MARRTAT^S  DIARY. 


227 


II 


ice  has 
J  Lower 
position, 
nication 

1  says — 
I  del  i  be- 
Lower 
derable 
lat  they 
*he  pro- 
it  not  as 
instead 
?  for  the 
in,  in  the 
uard  the 
to  whom 
e  fused  to 
I  to  meet 
)  refused 
ivoted  to 
Montreal 
English 
issioners, 
dmirable 
i^hich  the 
cen  on  a 
1  brought 
inications 
I  a  great 
hat  there 
the  plan 
mmenced 
d  carried 
profiting 
from  this 
•ns  a  pre- 
railroads, 
measures 
;  but  the 
1  the  par- 
adoption 
inconsis- 
1  no  mea- 
(lode,  was 
al  tenure 
lement  of 
tee  of  the 
I  the  most 
no  practi- 


cal  results ;  and  the  enterprises  of  the  Englisli  were  still  thwart- 
ed by  the  obnoxious  laws  of  the  country.  In  all  these  decisions 
of  the  Assembly,  in  its  discussions,  and  in  the  apparent  motives 
of  its  conduct,  the  English  population  perceived  traces  of  a  de- 
sire to  repress  the  influx  and  the  success  of  their  race.  A  mea- 
sure for  imposing  a  tax  on  emigrants,  though  recommended  by 
the  Home  Government,  and  warranted  by  the  policy  of  those 
neighbouring  States  which  give  the  greatest  encouragement  to 
emigration,  was  argued  on  such  grounds  in  the  Assembly,  ihat 
it  was  not  unjustly  regarded  as  indicative  of  an  intention  to  ex- 
clude any  further  accession  to  the  English  population  ;  and  the 
industry  of  the  English  was  thus  retarded  by  this  conduct  of  the 
Assembly.  Some  districts,  particularly  that  of  the  Eastern 
Townships,  where  the  French  race  have  no  footing,  were  se- 
riously injured  by  the  refusal  of  necessary  improvements ;  and 
the  English  inhabitants  generally  regarded  the  policy  of  the  As- 
sembly as  a  plan  for  preventing  any  further  emigration  to  the 
province,  of  stopping  the  growth  of  English  wealth,  and  of  ren- 
dering precarious  tlie  English  preperty  already  invested  or  ac- 
quired in  Lower  Canada," 

It  may  be  said,  that  latterly  the  French  party,  by  the  incon- 
siderate yielding  of  the  Government  at  home,  legislate  for  both 
provinces;  and  finding  that  they  never  could  compete  with  the 
English  in  other  points,  their  object  has  been  to  crush  them  as 
much  as  possible.*    The  policy  pursued  by  M.  Papineau  and  his 

*  It  was  not  long  after  the  conquest,  tlial  another  and  larger  class  of  English 
settlers  began  to  enter  the  province.  English  capital  was  attractcil  to  Canada 
by  the  vast  quantity  and  valuable  nature  of  the  exportable  produce  of  the 
country,  and  the  great  facilities  for  commerce,  presented  by  the  natural  means 
of  internal  intercourse.  The  ancient  trade  of  the  country  was  conducted  on  a 
much  larger  and  more  profUHble  scale  ;  and  new  branches  of  industry  were  ex- 
plored. The  active  and  regular  habits  of  the  English  capitalist  drove  out  of  all 
the  more  prr  table  kinds  of  industry  their  inert  and  careless  competitors  of 
the  French  race  ;  but  in  respect  of  the  greater  part  (almost  the  whole)  of  the 
commerce  and  manufactures  of  the  couu.ry,  the  English  cannot  be  said  to 
have  encroached  on  tlie  French;  for,  in  fact,  they  created  employments  and 
profits  wJiich  had  not  previously  existed.  A  few  of  the  ancient  race  smarted 
under  the  loss  occasioned  by  the  success  of  English  coniiiotitinn  ;  but  all  felt 
yet  more  acutely  the  gradual  increase  of  a  class  of  strangers  in  whose  hands 
the  wealth  of  the  country  appeared  to  centre,  and  whose  expenditure  and  in- 
fluence eclipsed  those  of  the  class  which  had  previously  occupied  the  first  posi- 
tion in  the  country.  Nor  was  the  intrusion  of  the  English  limited  to  commer- 
cial enterprises  By  degrees,  laipe  portions  of  land  were  occupied  by  them; 
nor  did  they  confine  themselves  to  the  unsettled  and  distant  country  of  the 
townships.  The  wealthy  capitalist  invested  his  money  in  the  purchase  of 
seignorial  properties  ;  and  it  is  es-timated,  that  at  the  present  moment  full  half 
of  the  more  valuable  seignories  are  actually  owned  by  linglish  proprietors. 
The  seigniorial  tenure  is  one  S(i  little  adapted  to  our  notions  of  proprietary 
rights,  that  the  new  seigneur,  without  any  consciousness  or  intention  torn- 
Justice,  in  many  instances  exercised  hit  rights  in  a  manner  which  would  ap[)ear 
perfectly  fair  in  this  country,  but  which  tliM  Canadian  settler  reasonably  re- 
garded as  oppressive.  The  English  purchaser  found  an  equally  unexpi-cted  and 
just  cau.se  of  complaint  in  that  uncertainty  of  the  laws,  which  rendered  his 
possession  of  prfiperty  precarious,  and  in  those  incidents  of  the  tenure  which 
rendered  its  alienation  or  improvement  difi^icult.  But  an  irritation,  greater 
than  that  occasioned  by  the  transfer  of  the  large  properties,  was  caused  by  the 
competition  of  the  English  with  tlie  French  farmer.  The  English  farmer  car- 
ried with  him  the  experiotice  and  habits  of  the  most  improved  agriculture  in 


F*    ! 


^f 


mm 


'':   I 


p    ■   ! 


228 


MARRYAT  S   DIARY. 


adherents,  has  therefore  been  to  keep  the  Lower  Province  en- 
tirely in  the  hands  of  the  French,  and  with  this  view  they 
have  as  much  as  possible,  prevented  British  settlers  from  ob- 
taining land  in  Lower  Canada ;  and  that  their  rule  miofht  be 
absolute,  over  the  French  population,  they  have  prevented  their 
education,  so  that  they  might  blindly  follow  those  who  guided 
them.  These  two  assertions  will  be  fully  borne  out  by  an  ex- 
amination into  the  public  records. 

The  land  being  almost  wholly  in  the  possession  of  the  French, 
M.  Papineau's  first  object  was,  to  make  the  possession  oi'  landed 
properly  the  tenure  by  which  any  employment  of  the  trust  under 
government  could  be  held  ;  and  in  this  great  object  he  succeeded. 
It  must  at  once  be  perceived  that,  by  this  regulation  alone,  all 
British  residents  were  exxluded,  and  that  if  possessed  of  capital 
to  any  amount,  whatever  their  stake  in  the  colony  might  be, 
they  were  ruled  and  dictated  to  by  the  French  party.  No  per- 
son could  be  an  officer  in  the  militia  imless  he  was  a  land- 
owner. The  wealthy  English  merchant  had  to  fall  into  the 
ranks,  and  be  ordered  about  by  an  ignorant  French  farmer,  a 
man  who  could  not  write  or  read,  but  made  his  cross  to  any 
paper  presented  to  him  for  his  signature. 

By  another  enactment  the  grand  juries  were  to  be  selected 
from  those  who  were  land-owners,  and  the  consequence  was, 
that  in  two  grand  juries  selected  in  two  succeeding  years,  there 
was  only  one  man  who  could  write  or  read  out  of  the  whole 
number,  and  the  others  fixed  their  cross  to  the  bills  found. 

What  was  still  more  absurd  was,  that  the  office  of  trustee  tor 
the  schools  could  only  be  held  by  the  same  tenure,  and  in  the 
Act  passed,  it  is  provided,  that  the  trustees  for  national  education 
may  be  permitted  to  affix  their  c7-o.ss  to  the  school  reports,  a  more 
convincing  proof  of  the  state  of  ignorance  in  which  the  Cana- 
dian French  population  have  been  held  and  acknowledged  to  bo 
so  by  the  French  party,  by  the  making  such  a  proviso  in  the 
statute.  I  had  a  convincing  proof  myself  of  the  ignorance  of 
the  French  population  during  the[rebellion  in  Lower  Canada.  I 
handed  a  printed  circular  to  about  four  hundred  prisoners  who 
were  collected,  for  one  of  them  to  read  aloud  to  the  rest,  and 
there  was  not  one  who  could  read  print. 

Having  secured  the  party  in  the  province,  the  next  object  of 
M.  Papineau  and  his  adherents  was,  to  blind  the  Government 


ih  i 


the.  world.  He  scttlnd  himself  in  the  townships  bordering  on  the  seignories, 
and  broufiht  a  fresh  soil  and  improved  cnltivation  to  com|Hite  witii  the  wf)rn- 
oiit  and  slovenly  farm  of  the  habitant.  He  often  took  the  very  farm  which 
the  Canadian  settler  Iiad  abandoned,  and,  by  superior  management,  made  that 
a  source  of  profit  which  had  only  impoverished  bis  predect'ssor.  The  ascendaiK  y 
which  an  nnjnst  favoritism  had  cotitrihnteil  to  irjve  to  the  English  race  in  the 
coveriimer't  and  the  legal  profession,  their  o\\  n  sii|K!rior  energy,  skill  and  capi- 
tal secured  to  them  in  every  branch  of  industry.  They  have  developed  the  re- 
sources of  the  country  ;  they  have  constructed  or  improved  its  means  of  com- 
munication ;  they  have  creat^'i  iis  internal  and  foreign  commerce.  The  entire 
wholesale,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  retail  trade  of  the  province,  with  the 
most  profitable  and  flourishing  farms,  are  now  iu  llie  hands  of  this  numerical 
minority  of  the  population. 


i 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


229 


at  home:  they  sent  home  a  list  of  grievnnccs  which  required  re- 
dress, and  in  this  they  were  joined  by  the  Englit^h  republican 
party.  Among  other  demands,  they  insisted  upon  the  right  to 
the  Lower  Assembly  having  the  control  of  the  colonial  revenues. 
So  earnest  was  the  Government  at  homo  to  satisfy  them,  that 
every  concession  was  made,  and  even  the  last  great  question  of 
conLrolling  their  own  expenditure  was  consented  to,  upon  the 
solo  condition  that  the  civil  list,  for  the  payment  of  the  salary  of 
the  governor  and  other  state  officers,  was  secured. 

What  was  the  conduct  of  M.  Papineau  and  his  party  as  soon 
as  they  had  gained  their  point  7  They  immediately  broke  their 
faith  with  the  Government  at  home,  and  refused  to  vote  the  sam 
for  the  civil  list. 

For  three  years,  the  governor  and  all  the  public  officers  were 
v.ithout  their  salaries,  which  were  at  last  provided  for  by  a  vote 
of  the  English  Parliament  at  home.  This  nefarious  conduct  of 
the  French  Party  had  one  good  effect,  it  created  a  disunion  with 
the  English  republican  party,  who,  although  they  wished  for  re- 
ionn,  would  be  no  participators  in  such  a  breach  of  honour. 

That  for  many  years  there  has  been  sad  mismanagement  on 
the  part  of  the  Government  at  home,  cannot  be  denied,  but  the 
error  has  been  the  continual  yielding  to  French  clamour  and 
misreprentation,  and  the  Government  having  lost  sight  of  the 
tact  that  the  English  population  were  rapidly  increasing,  and  had 
an  equal  right  to  the  protection  of  the  mother-country.  It  is 
the  English  population  who  have  had  real  cause  of  complaint, 
and  who  are  justified  in  demanding  redress.  The  French  have 
been  only  too  well  treated,  and  their  demands  became  more  im- 
j)erinus  in  proportion  to  the  facility  with  which  the  Government 
yielded  to  them  in  their  earnest,  but  mistaken,  desire  to  put  an 
end  to  t!ie  agitation  of  M.  Papineau  and  his  party.  Mistaking 
ihe  forbearance  of  the  English  government  for  weakness,  m. 
Papineau  issued  his  inflammatory  appeals ;  the  people  were  in- 
cited to  rebellion  ;  but  even  this  conduct  did  not  seem  to  rouse  the 
Government  at  home,  who  had  probably  formed  the  idea  that  the 
French  Canadian  was  too  peaceful  to  have  recourse  to  arms.  Em- 
boldened hy  the  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  Government,  which 
was  ascribed  to  fear,  and  finding  themselves  supported  by  Mr. 
Joseph  Hume  and  Mr.  Roebuck  at  home,  the  republican  party 
in  Upper  Canada  openly  declared  itself,  and  a  portion  of  the  Ca- 
nadian press  issued  the  most  treasonable  articles  without  moleB- 
tation.  The  Americans  were  not  idle  in  fomenting  this  ill-will 
towards  the  mother  country  in  the  Upper  Province,  and  the 
Papineau  party  proceeded  to  more  active  measures.  Arrange- 
ments were  made  for  a  general  rising  of  the  Lower  Province; 
the  meeting  of  St.  Charles  took  place,  and  resolutions  were 
passed  of  a  nature  which  could  no  longer  be  overlooked  by  the 
Provincial  Government.  For  mar.j;  months  previous  to  the 
meeting  at  St.  Charles,  the  Provincial  Government  had  been 
aroused  and  aware  of  the  danger,  and  Lord  Gosford  perceived  ths 
necessity  of  acting  contrary  to  the  orders  received  from  home. 

20 


ii'  , 


B 


m 


t 


m 


i 


230 


MARRYAT  8  DIARY. 


mi 


I'i-     i-: 


hi 


■^1        ^ 


un 


Proofs  liad  been  obtained  against  those  who  were  most  active  in 
the  intended  rebellion,  and  ut  last  warrants  were  issued  by  the 
Attorney-General  for  their  apprehension.  It  was  this  sudden 
and  unexpected  issue  of  the  warrants  which  may  be  said  to  have 
saved  the  provinces.  It  defeated  all  the  plans  of  the  conspira- 
tors, who  had  not  intended  to  have  flown  to  arms  until  the  next 
Spring,  when  their  arrangements  would  have  been  fully  made 
and  organised.  This  fact  I  had  Irom  Boucliette,  and  three  or 
four  of  the  ringleaders,  whom  I  visited  in  prison.  They  intend- 
ed to  have  had  the  leaf  on  the  tree,  and  the  cold  weather  over, 
before  they  commenced  operations;  and  had  they  waited  till 
then  the  result  might  have  been  very  serious,  but  the  issue  of 
the  warrants  for  the  apprehension  of  the  leaders  placed  them  in 
the  awkward  dilemma  of  either  being  dcprivedof  them,  or  of  hav- 
ing recourse  to  arms  before  tiieir  plans  were  fully  matured.  The 
latter  was  the  alternative  preferred  ;  and  the  results  of  this  un- 
successful attempt  are  well  described  in  Lord  Durham's  re- 
port : — 

"  The  treasonable  attempt  of  the  French  party  to  carry  its 
political  objects  into  effect  by  an  appeal  to  arms,  brought  these 
hostile  races  into  general  and  armed  collision.  I  will  not  dwell 
on  the  melancholy  scenes  exhibited  in  the  progress  of  the  contest, 
or  the  fierce  passions  w-hich  held  an  unchecked  sway  during  the 
insurrection,  or  immediately  after  its  suppression.  It  is  not 
difficult  to  conceive  how  greatly  the  evils,  which  I  have  de- 
scribed as  previously  existing,  have  been  aggravated  by  the  war; 
how  terror  and  revenge  nourished,  in  each  portion  of  the  popu- 
lation, a  bitter  and  irreconcilable  hatred  to  each  other,  and  to 
the  institutions  of  the  country.  The  French  population,  who 
had  for  some  time  exercised  a  great  and  increasing  power 
through  the  medium  of  the  House  of  Assembly,  found  their  hopes 
unexpectedly  prostrated  in  the  dust.  The  physical  force  which 
they  had  vaunted  was  called  into  action,  and  proved  to  be  utterly 
inefficient.  The  hope  of  recovering  their  previous  ascendancy 
under  a  constitution  similar  to  that  suspended,  almost  ceased  to 
exist.  Removed  from  all  actual  share  in  the  government  of  their 
smaller  country,  they  brood  in  silence  over  the  memory  of  their  fall- 
en countrymen,  of  their  burnt  villages,  of  their  ruined  property,  of 
their  extinguished  ascendancy,  and  of  their  humbled  nationality. 
To  the  Government  and  the  English  they  ascribe  these  wrongs, 
and  nourish  against  both  an  indiscriminating  and  eternal  ani- 
mosity. Nor  have  the  English  inhabitants  forgotten  in  their 
triumph,  the  terror  with  which  they  suddenly  saw  themselves 
surrounded  by  an  insurgent  majority,  and  the  incidents  which 
alone  appeared  to  save  them  from  the  unchecked  domination  of 
their  antagonists.  They  find  themselves  still  a  minority  in  the 
midst  of  a  hostile  and  organised  people  ;  apprehensions  of  secret 
conspiracies  and  sanguinary  designs  haunt  them  unceasingly, 
and  their  only  hope  of  safety  is  supposed  to  rest  on  systematically 
terrifying  and  disabling  the  French,  and  in  preventing  a  majority 
of  that  race  from  ever  and  again  being  predominant  in  any  por- 
tion of  the  legislature  of  the  province.    I  describe  in  strong 


marryat's  diart. 


231 


ictive  in 
d  by  the 
sudden 
to  have 
onspira- 
the  next 
lly  made 
three  or 
I  intend- 
ler  over, 
lited  till 
issue  of 
them  in 
)r  of  hav- 
red.  The 
f  this  un- 
lam's  re- 
carry  its 
ghi  these 
:iot  dwell 
B  contest, 
uring  the 
It  is  not 
have  de- 
the  war; 
the  popu- 
er,  and  to 
tion,  who 
ig  power 
leir  hopes 
rce  which 
be  utterly 
jcendancy 
ceased  to 
it  of  their 
'their  fall- 
roperty,  of 
ationality. 
e  wrongs, 
ernal  ani- 
n  in  their 
tiemselves 
nts  which 
lination  of 
rity  in  the 
3  of  secret 
ceasingly, 
smatically 
a  majority 
n  any  por- 
in  strong 


terms  the  feelings  which  appear  to  me  to  animate  each  portion 
of  the  population ;  and  the  picture  which  I  draw  represents  a 
state  of  things  so  little  fanjiiiar  to  the  personal  experience  of  the 
people  of  tliis  country,  that  many  will  probably  regard  it  as  the 
work  of  mere  imagination  ;  but  I  feel  confident  that  the  accu- 
racy and  moderation  of  my  description  will  be  acknovvlodged  by 
all  who  have  seen  the  state  of  society  in  Lower  Canada  during 
the  last  year.  Nor  do  I  exaggerate  the  inevitable  constancy, 
any  more  than  the  intensity  of  this  animosity.  Never  again 
will  the  present  generation  of  French  Canadians  yield  a  loyal 
submission  to  a  British  Government:  never  affain  will  the  Ensf- 
lish  population  tolerate  the  authority  of  a  House  of  Assembly  in 
which  the  French  shall  possess  or  even  approximate  to  a  ma- 
jority." 

Although  M.  Papineau  and  his  party  were  very  willing  to  fra- 
ternise with  the  discontented  party  in  Upper  Canada,  and  to  call 
forth  the  sympathy  and  the  assistance  of  the  Americans,  their  real 
intentions  and  wishes  were  to  have  made  the  Canadas  an  inde- 
pendent   French  province,   in  strict   alliance    with    France.* 

*  "  Nor  does  there  appear  to  be  the  slightest  chance  of  putting  an  end  to  this 
animosity  during  the  present  generation.  Passions  inflamed  during  so  long  a 
period,  cannot  spnedily  be  calmed.  The  state  of  education  which  [  have  pre- 
viously described  as  placing  the  peasantry  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  agitators, 
the  total  absence  of  any  class  of  persons,  or  any  organisation  of  authority  that 
could  counteract  this  mischievous  influence,  and  the  serious  decline  in  the  dis- 
trict of  Montreal  of  the  influence  of  the  clergy,  concur  in  rendering  it  abso- 
lutely impossible  for  the  Government  to  produce  any  better  state  of  feeling 
among  the  French  population.  It  is  even  impossible  to  impress  on  a  people  so 
circumstanced  the  salutary  dread  of  the  power  of  Great  Britain,  which  the 
prese!ice  of  a  large  military  force  in  the  province  might  be  expected  to  produce. 
I  have  been  informed,  by  witnesses  so  numerous  and  trustworthy  that  I  cannot 
doubt  the  correctness  of  their  statements,  that  the  peasantry  were  generally 
ignorant  of  the  large  amount  of  force  which  was  sent  into  their  country  last 
year.  The  newspapers  that  circulate  among  them  had  informed  them  that 
Great  Britain  had  no  troops  to  send  out;  that  in  order  to  produce  an  impression 
on  the  minds  of  the  country-people,  the  same  regiments  were  marched  back- 
wards and  forwards  in  diff"erent  directions,  and  represented  as  additional  arri- 
vals from  home.  This  explanation  was  promulgated  among  the  people  by  the 
agitators  of  each  village  ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  mass  of  the  inhabi- 
tants really  believed  that  the  government  was  endeavouring  to  impose  on  them 
by  this  species  of  fraud.  It  is  a  populafon  with  whom  authoritv  has  no  means 
of  contact  or  explanation.  It  is  difliitult  even  to  ascertain  whai  amount  of 
influence  the  ancient  leaders  of  the  Freuch  party  continue  to  possess.  [The 
name  of  M.  Papineau  is  still  cherished  by  the  people  ;  and  the  idea  is  current 
that,  at  the  appointed  time,  he  will  return,  at  the  head  of  an  immense  army, 
and  reestablish  "  La  Nation  Canadienne."]  But  there  is  great  reason  to 
doubt  whether  his  name  be  not  used  as  a  mere  watchword  ;  whether  the  people 
are  not  in  fact  running  entirely  counter  to  his  councils  and  policy  ;  and  whe- 
ther they  are  not  really  under  the  guidance  of  separate  petty  agitators,  who 
have  no  plan  but  that  of  a  senseless  and  reckless  determination  to  show  in 
every  way  their  hostility  to  the  British  Government  and  English  race.  Their 
ultimate  designs  and  hopes  are  equally  unintelligible.  Some  vague  expecta- 
tion of  absolute  independence  still  seems  to  delude  them.  The  national  vanity, 
which  is  a  remarkable  ingredient  in  their  character,  induces  many  to  flatter 
themselves  with  the  idea  of  a  Canadian  Republic;  the  sounder  information 
of  others  has  led  them  to  perceive  that  a  separation  from  Great  Britain  must 
be  followed  by  a  junction  with  the  great  Confederation  on  their  southern  fron- 
tier. But  they  seem  apparently  reckless  of  the  consequences,  provided  they  can 
wreak  their  vengeance  on  the  English.  There  is  no  people  against  which 
early  associations  and  every  conceivable  difference  of  manners  and  opinious 
have  implanted  in  the  Canadian  mind  a  more  ancient  and  rooted  national 
antipathy  than  that  which  they  feel  against  the  people  of  the  United  States. 
Their  more  discerning  leaders  feel  that  their  chances  of  preserving  their  na- 


-■f  t 


I 


1,,  I.  ji 

m 


]4i 


232 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


•     i      'I 

(t.   '  i         ' 


The  assistance  of  the  Upper  Canada  party  would  have  been  ac- 
cepted until  they  were  no  longer  required,  and  then  there  would 
have  been  an  attempt,  and  very  probably  a  successful  one,  to 
drive  away  by  every  means  in  their  power  the  English  settlers 
in  Upper  Canada  to  the  United  States.  The  Americans,  on  the 
other  hand,  cared  nothing  about  the  French  or  English  grievances ; 
their  sympathy  arose  from  nothing  less  than  a  wish  to  add  the 
Canadas  to  their  already  vast  territories,  and  to  drive  the  Eng- 
lish from  their  last  possessions  in  America ;  but  they  also  knew 
how  to  wear  the  cloak  as  well  as  M.  Papineau,  and  had  the  in- 
surrection  been  successful,  both  French  and  English  would  by 
this  lime  have  been  subjected  to  their  control,  and  M.  Papineau 
would  have  found  that  he  had  only  been  a  tool  in  the  hands  of 
the  more  astute  and  ambitious  Americans.  Such  is  my  convic- 
tion: but  this  is  certain,  that  whatever  might  have  been  the  re- 
sult of  the  former  insurrection,  or  whatever  may  be  the  result 
of  any  future  one  (for  the  troubles  are  not  yet  over,)  the  English 
in  Upper  Canada  must  fall  a  sacrifice  to  either  one  party  or  the 
other,  unless  they  can  succeed  (which,  with  ther  present  num- 
bers and  situation,  will  be  difficult)  in  overpowering  them  both. 
It  maybe  inquired,  what  were  the  causes  of  discontent  which 
occasioned  the  partial  rising  in  Upper  Canada.  Strange  to  say, 
although  Mackenzie  and  his  party  were  in  concert  and  corres- 
pondence with  M.  Papineau,  the  chief  cause  of  discontent  arose 
from  the  partiality  shown  by  the  English  government  to  the 
French  Canadians  in  Lower  Canada ;  their  grievances  were 
their  own,  and  they  had  no  fellow-feeling  with  the  French  Ca- 
nadians. If  they  had  any  prepossession  at  all,  it  was  in  favour 
of  joining  the  American  States,  and  to  this  they  were  instigated 
by  the  number  of  Americans  who  had  settled  in  Upper  Canada. 
There  were  several  minor  causes  of  discontent :  the  Scotch 
emigrants  were  displeased  because  the  government  had  decided 
that  the  clergy  revenues  were  to  be  allotted  only  for  the  support 
of  the  Episcopal  church,  and  not  for  the  Presbyterian.  But  the 
great  discontent  was  because  the  English  settlers  considered 
that  they  had  been  unfairly  treated,  and  sacrificed  by  the  go- 
vernment at  home.  But  although  discontent  was  general,  a 
wish  to  rebel  was  not  so,  and  here  it  was  that  Mackenzie  found 
himself  in  error,   and  M.  Papineau  was  deceived ;  instead  of 

tionality  would  be  greatly  diminished  by  an  incorporation  with  the  UnitecJ 
States  ;  and  recent  symptoms  of  Anti-Catholic  feeling  in  New  England,  welf 
known  to  the  Canadian  population,  have  generated  a  very  general  belief 
that  their  religion,  which  even  they  do  not  accuse  the  British  party  of  assail- 
ing, would  find  little  favour  or  respect  from  their  neighbours.  Yet  none  even 
of  these  considerations  weigh  against  their  present  all-absorbing  hatred  of 
the  English ;  and  I  am  persuaded  that  they  would  purchase  vengeance  and  a 
momentary  triumph  by  the  aid  of  any  enemies,  or  submission  to  any  yoke. 
This  provisional  but  complete  cessation  of  their  ancient  antipathy  to  the 
Americans,  is  now  admitted  even  by  those  who  most  strongly  denied  it  during 
the  last  spring,  and  who  then  asserted  that  an  American  war  would  as  com- 
pletely unite  the  whole  population  against  the  common  enemy,  as  it  did  in 
1813.  My  subsequent  experience  leaves  no  doubt  in  my  mind  that  the  views 
which  were  contained  in  my  despatch  on  the  9th  of  August  are  perfectly  cor- 
rect; and  that  an  invading  American  army  might  rely  on  the  co-operation 
of  almost  the  entire  French  population  of  Lower  Canada." 


MARRYAT  S   DIARY. 


233 


)cen  ac- 
L'  would 
one,  to 
settlers 
■^.  on  the 
ivances; 
add  the 
le  Eng- 
t-o  knew 
the  in* 
oiild  by 
*apineau 
lands  of 
convic- 
1  the  re- 
le  result 
English 
ly  or  the 
3nt  num- 
im  both, 
tit  which 
e  to  say, 
1  corres- 
ent  arose 
it  to  the 
les  were 
ench  Ca- 
in favour 
nstigated 
•  Canada, 
e  Scotch 
I  decided 
e  support 
But  the 
3nsidered 
I  the  go- 
eneral,  a 
sie  found 
nstead  of 

the  United 
gland,  welf 
leral  belief 
y  of  assnil- 
none  even 
[  hatred  of 
nice  and  a 

any  yoke, 
ithy  to  the 
d  it  during 
lid  as  com- 
s  it  did  in 

the  views 
rfectly  cor- 
o-operation 


being  joined  by  thousands,  as  they  expected,  from  the  Upper 
Province,  they  could  only  muster  a  few  hundreds,  who  were 
easily  dispersed  :  the  feelings  of  loyalty  prevailed,  and  those 
whom  the  rebel-leaders  expected  would  have  joined  the  standard 
of  insurrection,  enrolled  themselves  to  trample  it  under  foot. 
The  behaviour  of  the  settlers  in  Upper  Canada  was  worthy  of 
all  praise;  they  had  just  grounds  of  complaint;  they  had  been 
opposed  and  sacrificed  to  a  malevolent  and  ungrateful  French 
party  in  the  Lower  Province ;  yet  when  the  question  arose  as  to 
whether  they  should  assist,  or  put  down  the  insurrection,  they 
immediately  forgot  their  own  wrongs,  and  proved  their  loyalty 
to  their  couniry. 

The  party  who  adhered  to  Mackenzie  may  well  be  considered 
as  an  American  party  ;  for  Upper  Canada  had  been  so  neglected 
and  uncared  for,  that  the  Americans  had  already  obtained  great 
influence  there.  Indeed,  when  it  is  stated  that  Mathews  and 
Lount,  the  two  members  of  the  Upper  House  of  Assembly  who 
were  executed  for  treason,  were  both  Americans,  it  is  evident 
that  the  Americans  had  even  obtained  a  share  in  the  legislation 
of  the  province.  When  I  passed  through  the  Upper  Province, 
I  remarked  that,  independently  of  some  of  the  best  land  being 
held  by  Americans,  the  landlords  of  the  inns,  the  contractors 
for  transporting  the  mails,  and  drivers  of  coaches,  were  almost 
without  exception,  Americans. 

One  cause  of  the  Americans  wishing  that  the  Canadas  should 
be  wrested  from  the  English  was  that,  by  an  Act  of  the  Legis- 
lature, they  were  not  able  to  hold  lands  in  the  province.  It  ia 
true  that  they  could  purchase  them,  but  if  they  wished  to  sell 
them,  the  title  was  not  valid.  Colonel  Prince,  whose  name  was 
so  conspicuous  during  the  late  troubles,  brought  in  a  bill  to  allow 
Americans  to  hold  land  in  Upper  Canada,  but  the  bill  was 
thrown  out.  ^t  scarcely  need  be  observed  that  Colonel  Prince 
is  now  as  violent  an  opponent  to  the  bill.*  He  has  had  quite 
enough  of  Americans  in  Upper  Canada. 

♦  Colonel  Prince  is  the  gentleman  who  took  with  his  own  hands  Ge- 
neral Sutherland  and  his  aid-de-camp,  and  who  ordered  the  Yankee 
pirates  to  be  shot.  Mr.  Hume  has  thought  proper  to  make  a  motion  in 
the  Houise  of  Commons,  reprobating  this  act  as  one  of  murder.  I  be- 
lieve there  is  httle  difference  whether  a  man  breaks  into  your  house,  and 
steals  your  money ;  or  burns  your  house,  and  robs  you  of  your  cattle  and 
other  property.  One  is  as  much  a  case  of  burglary  as  the  other.  In  the 
first  instance  you  are  justified  in  taking  the  robber's  life,  and  why  not  in 
the  second  (  Those  people  who  attacked  the  inhabitants  of  a  country  with 
whom  they  were  in  profound  peace,  were  disowned  by  their  own  govern- 
ment, consequently  they  were  outlawb  and  pirates,  and  it  is  a  pity  that  Su- 
therland and  every  other  prisoner  taken  had  not  been  immmediately  shot. 
Mr.  Hume  may  flare  up  in  the  House  of  Commons,  but  I  should  like  to  know 
what  Mr.  Hume's  opmion  would  be  if  he  was  the  party  who  had  all  his 
property  stolen  and  his  house  burnt  over  his  head,  in  the  depth  of  a  Ca- 
nadian winter.  I  suspect  he  would  say  a  very  different  say,  as  he  has 
no  small  respect  for  the  meum ;  indeed,  I  should  be  sorry  to  be  the  party 
to  be  sentenced  by  Mr.  Hume,  if  I  had  stolen  a  few  ducks  out  of  the 
honourable  gentleman's  duck  decoys  near  Yarmouth. 

20* 


'  ( 


m 


234 


MARBYAT  8    DIARY. 


^Il^    \ 


"J 


1^ 

If 

1 

It  was  fortunate  for  tlie  country  that  there  was  sucli  a  nmii  as 
Sir  John  Colborne,  and  aided  by  Sir  Francis  Head,  al  that  perio<l 
in  the  command  of  the  two  provinces.  Of  the  first  it  is  not 
necessary  that  I  should  add  my  tribute  of  admiration  to  tliat 
which  Sir  John  Colborne  has  already  so  unanimously  received. 
Sir  Francis  Head  lias  not  been  quite  so  fortunate,  and  has  been 
accused  (most  unjustly)  of  rashness  and  want  of  due  precaution. 
Now  the  only  grounds  upon  which  this  charge  can  be  preferred 
ia,  his  sending  down  to  Sir  John  Colborne  all  the  regular  troops, 
when  he  was  requested  if  possible  so  to  do.  I  was  at  this  period 
at  Toronto,  and  as  I  had  the  pleasure  of  being  intimate  with  Sir 
Francis,  I  had  full  knowledge  of  the  causes  of  this  decision. 
Sir  Francis  said,  "  I  have  but  two  hundred  regular  tro<:>ps  ;  they 
will  be  of  great  service  in  the  Lower  Province,  when  added  to 
those  which  Sir  John  Colborne  already  has  under  his  command. 
Here  they  are  not  sufficient  to  stem  an  insurrection  if  it  be  for- 
midable. I  do  not  know  what  may  be  the  strength  of  the  rebels 
until  they  show  themselves,  but  1  think  I  do  know  the  number 
who  will  support  me.  Should  the  rebels  prove  in  great  force, 
these  two  companies  of  regular  troops  will  be  overwhelmed, 
and  what  I  consider  is,  not  any  partial  success  ot  the  rebel  party, 
but  the  moral  effect  which  success  over  regular  troops  will  create. 
There  are,  I  am  sure,  thousands  who  are  at  present  undecided, 
who,  if  they  heard  that  the  regular  troops,  of  whom  thoy  have 
such  dread,  were  overcome,  would  join  the  rebel  cause.  This 
is  what  I  fear;  as  for  any  advantage  gained  over  me,  when  I 
have  only  militia  to  oppose  to  them,  that  is  of  little  consequence. 
When  Sir  John  Colborne  has  defeated  them  in  Lower  Canada, 
he  can  then  come  up  here,  with  the  regular  troops," 

I  believe  these  to  be  the  very  words  used  by  Sir  Francis 
Head  when  he  asked  my  opinion  on  the  subject,  and  I  agreed 
with  him  most  cordially  ;  but  if  any  one  is  inclined  to  suppose, 
from  the  light,  playful,  and  I  must  say,  undiplomatic  style  of  Sir 
Francis's  despatches,  that  he  had  not  calculated  every  chance, 
and  made  every  disposition  which  prudence  and  foresight  could 
suggest,  they  are  very  much  mistaken.  The  most  perfect  confi- 
dence was  reposed  in  him  by  all  parties  ;  and  the  event  proved 
that  he  was  not  out  in  his  calculations,  for  with  the  militia  alone 
he  put  down  the  rebellion.  During  the  short  time  from  Sir  F. 
Head's  going  out,  until  he  requested  to  be  recalled,  he  did  more 
good  to  that  province,  and  more  to  secure  the  English  dominion 
than  could  be  imagined,  and  had  he  not  been  governor  of  the 
province  for  some  time  previous  to  the  rebellion,  1  strongly  sur- 
mise that  it  would  have  been  lost  to  this  country. 

The  events  of  the  rebellion  are  too  fresh  in  the  reader's  me- 
mory to  be  mentioned  here.  It  is,  however,  necessary  to  exa- 
mine into  the  present  state  of  affairs,  for  it  must  not  be  supposed 
that  the  troubles  have  yet  ceased. 

First,  as  to  the  French  Canadian  party.  If  I  am  not  very 
much  mistaken,  this  may  be  considered  as  broken  up;  the  severe 
lesson  received  from  the  English  troops,  and  the  want  of  confi- 
dence in  their  leaders  from  their  cowardice  and  inability,  will 


MARRYAT8  DIARY. 


2JJ5 


Fi  man  as 
at  poricxl 
it  Ik  not 
1  to  that 
received, 
lias  been 
E!cantion. 
preferred 
ir  troops, 
lis  period 
with  Sir 
decision, 
ps ;  they 
added  to 
oininand. 
it  be  tbr- 
lie  rebels 
J  number 
eat  force, 
a;  helmed, 
bel  party, 
ill  create, 
ndecided, 
hey  have 
^e.    This 
(,  when  I 
sequence, 
r  Canada, 

r  Francis 
1  I  agreed 
)  suppose, 
;yleot'Sir 
y  chance, 
oht  could 
feet  confi- 
nt  proved 
litia  alone 
►m  Sir  F. 
;  did  more 
dominion 
nor  of  the 
ongly  sur- 

ider's  me- 
ry  to  exa- 
!  supposed 

not  very 
the  severe 
t  of  confi- 
bility,  will 


prevent  the  French  Canadians  from  again  taking  up  arms.  They 
are  naturally  a  peaceable,  inottensive,  good-tempered  people,  and 
nothing  but  the  earnest  instigation  of  a  portion  of  their  priests, 
the  notaries,  and  the  doctors,  (the  three  parties  who  most  mix 
with  the  habitans),  would  have  ever  roused  them  to  rebellion. 
As  if  is,  I  consider  that  they  are  efliciently  quelled,  and  will  be 
quiet,  at  least  tor  one  generation,  if  the  measures  of  the  govern- 
ment at  home  are  judicious.  The  cause  of  the  great  influence 
obtained  by  the  people  1  have  specified  over  the  habitans  is  well 
explained  in  Lord  Durham's  Report.  Speaking  of  the  public 
seminaries,  he  says: — 

"  The  education  given  in  these  establishments  greatly  resem- 
bles the  kind  given  in  the  English  public  schools,  though  it  is 
rather  more  varied.  It  is  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  Catholic 
clergy.  The  number  of  pupils  in  these  establishments  is  esti- 
mated altogether  at  about  a  thousand  ;  and  they  turn  out  every 
year,  as  far  as  I  could  ascertain,  between  two  and  three  hun- 
dred young  men  thus  educated.  Almost  all  of  these  are  mem- 
bers of  the  family  of  some  habitant,  whom  the  possession  of 
greater  quickness  than  his  brothers  has  induced  the  lather  or  the 
curate  of  the  parish  to  select  and  send  to  the  seminary.  These 
young  men,  possessing  a  degree  of  information  immeasurably 
superior  to  that  of  their  families,  are  naturally  averse  to  what 
they  regard  as  descending  to  the  humble  occupations  of  their 
parents.  A  few  become  priests;  but  as  the  military  and  naval 
professions  are  closed  against  the  colonist,  the  greater  part  can 
only  find  a  position  suited  to  their  notions  of  their  own  qualifica- 
tions in  the  learned  professions  of  advocate,  notary,  and  surgeon. 
As  from  this  cause  these  professions  are  greatly  overstocked,  we 
find  every  village  in  Lower  Canada  filled  with  notaries  and  sur- 
geons, with  little  practice  to  occupy  their  attention,  and  living 
among  their  own  families,  or  at  any  rate  among  exactly  the  same 
class.  Thus  the  persons  of  most  education  in  every  village  be- 
long to  the  same  families,  and  the  same  original  station  in  life, 
as  the  illiterate  habitans  whom  I  have  described.  They  are  con- 
nected with  them  by  all  the  associations  of  early  youth,  and  the 
ties  of  blood.  The  most  perfect  equality  always  marks  their  in- 
tercourse, and  the  superior  in  education  is  separated  by  no  bar- 
rier of  manners,  or  pride,  or  distinct  interests,  from  the  singu- 
larly ignorant  peasantry  by  which  he  is  surrounded.  He  com- 
bines, therefore,  tlie  influencesof  superior  knowledge,  and  social 
equality,  and  wields  a  power  over  the  mass,  which  I  do  not  be- 
lieve that  the  educated  class  of  any  other  portion  of  the  world 
possess." 

The  second  party,  which  are  the  discontented,  yet  loyal  Eng- 
lish of  Upper  Canada,  are  entitled  to,  and  it  is  hoped  will  re- 
ceive the  justice  they  claim :  they  well  deserve  it.  It  is  the 
duty,  as  well  as  the  interest  of  the  mother  country  to  foster  loy- 
alty, enterprise,  and  activity,  and  it  is  chiefly  in  Upper  Canada 
that  it  is  to  be  found.  One  great  advantage  has  arisen  from  the 
late  troubles,  which  is,  that  they  have  driven  most  of  the 
Americans  out  of  the  province,  and  have  created  such  a  feeling' 


t   '■    < 

■     Jr 


h 
III 


i 


n\ 


236 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


' 

•ji 

i      1 

1 

li 

T   ^ 


M  ■ 


of  indifrnation  and  hatred  towurds  them  in  the  broasta  of  thr 
Upper  Canadians,  that  there  is  no  chance  of  their  fraternisinjr 
lor  at  least  another  half  century.  Nothing  could  have  proved 
more  untbrtunate  to  the  American  desire  of  oi)laininif  theC'a- 
nadasthan  the  result  of  the  late  rehellionn.  Should  the  Upper 
Canadians,  from  any  continued  injustice  and  misrule  on  tli«)  part 
of  the  mother  country,  ho  deternnned  to  separate,  at  all  evfMJts 
it  will  not  he  to  ally  themselves  with  the  Americans.  In  Lord 
Durham's  Report  wc  hive  the  following  n'marks : — 

"  I  have,  in  despatches  of  a  later  date  than  that  to  which  I 
have  had  occasion  so  frecpiently  to  refer,  called  the  attention  of 
the  Home  Government  to  the  growth  of  this  alarming  >late  of 
feeling  among  the  English  population.  1'he  course  of  the  late 
trouhles,and  the  assistance  which  the  French  insurgents  derived 
from  some  citizens  of  the  United  States,  have  caused  a  most 
intense  exasperation  among  the  Canadian  loyalists  against  the 
American  government  an(l  people.  Thoir  papers  have  teemed 
with  the  most  unmeasured  denunciations  of  the  good  faith  of 
the  authorities,  of  the  character  and  morality  of  the  people,  and 
of  the  political  institutions  of  the  United  States.  Yet,  under 
this  surface  of  hostility,  it  is  easy  to  detect  a  strong  under-cur- 
rent of  an  exactly  contrary  feeling.  As  the  general  opinion 
of  the  American  people  became  more  and  more  apparent  during 
the  course  of  the  last  year,  the  English  of  Lower  Canada  were 
surprised  to  find  how  strong,  in  spite  of  the  first  burst  of  sym- 
pathy, with  a  people  supposed  to  be  struggling  for  independ- 
ence, was  the  real  sympathy  of  their  republican  neighbours 
with  the  great  objects  of  the  minority.  Without  abandoning 
their  attachment  to  their  mother  country,  they  have  begun,  as 
men  in  a  state  of  uncertainty  are  apt  to  do,  to  calculate  the  pro- 
bable consequences  of  a  separation,  if  it  should  unfortunately  oc- 
cur, and  be  followed  by  an  incorporation  with  the  United  States. 
In  spite  of  the  shock  which  it  would  occasion  their  feelings,  they 
undoubtedly  think  that  they  should  find  some  compensation  in 
the  promotion  of  their  interests ;  they  believe  that  the  influx 
of  American  emigration  would  speedily  place  the  English  race 
in  a  majority ;  they  talk  frequently  and  loudly  of  what  has  oc- 
curred in  Louisiana,  where,  by  means  which  tney  utterly  misre- 
present, the  end  nevertheless  of  securing  an  I'^nglish  predomi- 
nance over  a  French  population  has  undoubtedly  been  attained  ; 
they  assert  very  confidently,  that  the  Americans  would  make  a 
very  speedy  and  decisive  settlement  of  the  pretensions  of  the 
French;  and  they  believe  that,  afler  the  first  shock  of  an  en- 
tirely new  political  state  had  been  got  over,  they  and  their  pos- 
terity would  share  in  that  amazing  progn-ss,  and  that  great  ma- 
terial prosperity,  which  every  day's  experience  shows  them 
is  the  lot  of  the  people  of  the  United  States.  I  do  not  believe 
that  such  a  feeling  has  yet  sapped  their  strong  allegiance  to  the 
British  empire ;  but  their  allegiance  i^  founded  on  their  deep- 
rooted  attachment  to  British,  as  distinguished  from  French  insti- 
tutions. And  if  they  find  that  that  authority  which  they  have 
maintained  against  its  recent  assailants,  is  to  be  exerted  in  such 


MAIlKYAT*a  DIARY. 


237 


a  manner  ns  to  sulycct  them  to  wlint  tlioy  cnll  n  Pronch  «lomi- 
nion,  I  led  perfectly  eonlident  that  tlu-y  would  attempt  to  avert 
the  retsult,  by  eourtin-r,  on  any  terms,  uix  union  witli  an  An^flo- 
Saxon  people." 

Here  I  do  not  ncrree  with  \uti  iordisliip.  That  nnch  was  the 
jeolint,'  previous  to  the  iiKsurrcction  I  believe,  and  notwithstand- 
in<,'  the  defeat  of  the  insurjirentH,  would  have  remained  so,  had  it 
not  been  for  the  piratical  attacks  of  the  American.s,  which  their 
own  ^'overnment  could  not  control.  This  was  a  lesson  to  the 
Upper  Canadians.  They  perceived  that  there  was  no  security 
for  life  or  property — no  law  to  check  outrage — and  they  felt 
severely  the  consecjuences  of  this  state  of  things  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  their  property  and  the  attempts  upon  their  lives  by  a  no- 
tion professing  to  be  in  amity  with  them.  Fraternise  with  the 
Americans  the  Upper  Canadians  will  not.  They  may  be  sub- 
dued by  them  if  they  throw  off  the  allegiance  and  protection  of 
the  mother-country,  as  they  would  be  henmied  in  between  two 
hostile  parties,  and  find  it  almost  impossible,  with  their  present 
population,  to  withstand  their  imited  efforts.  But  should  a  con- 
flict of  this  kind  take  place,  and  the  Upper  Canadians  be  al- 
lowed but  a  short  period  of  repose,  or  could  they  hold  the  Ame- 
ricans in  check  for  a  time,  they  would  sweep  the  whole  race  of 
the  Lower  Canadians  frouj  the  face  of  the  earth.  Their  feelings 
towards  the  Lower  Canadians  are  well  explained  in  Lord  Dur- 
ham's Report : — 

"  In  the  despatch  above  referred  to  I  also  described  the  state 
of  feeling  among  the  English  population,  nor  can  I  encourage  a 
hope  that  that  portion  of  the  community  is  at  all  more  inclined 
to  any  settlement  of  the  present  quarrel  that  would  leave  any 
share  of  power  to  the  hostile  race.  Circumstances  having 
thrown  the  English  into  the  ranks  of  the  government,  and  the 
folly  of  their  opponents  having  placed  them,  on  the  other  hand, 
in  a  state  of  permanent  collision  with  it,  the  former  possess  the 
advantage  of  having  the  force  of  government,  and  the  authority 
of  the  laws  on  their  side  in  the  present  state  of  the  contest. 
Their  exertions  during  the  recent  troubles  have  contributed  to 
maintain  the  supremacy  of  the  law,  and  the  continuance  of  the 
connexion  with  Great  Britain;  but  it  would,  in  my  opinion,  be 
dangerous  to  rely  on  the  continuance  of'  such  a  state  of  feeling, 
as  now  prevails  among  them,  in  the  event  of  a  different  policy 
being  adopted  by  the  Imperial  government.  Indeed  the  preva- 
lent sentiment  among  them  is  one  of  any  thing  but  satisfaction 
with  the  course  which  has  been  long  pursued,  with  reference 
to  Lower  Canada,  by  the  British  legislatur.e  and  executive. 
The  calmer  view,  which  distant  spectators  are  enabled  to  take 
of  the  conduct  of  the  two  parties,  and  the  disposition  which  is 
evinced  to  make  a  fair  adjustment  of  the  contending  claims, 
appear  iniquitous  and  injurious  in  the  eyes  of  men  who  think 
that  they  alone  have  any  claim  to  the  favour  of  that  government, 
by  which  they  alone  have  stood  fast.  They  complain  loudly 
and  bitterly  of  the  whole  course  pursued  by  the  Imperial  Go- 
vernment, with  respect  to  the  quarrel  of  the  two  races,  as 


h 


i 


f':; 


238 


MARRYAT  8  DIARY. 


nfl 

'     1 

i 

V< 

1  ^- 

K  f. 

Jl,. 

.1 

having  been  founded  on  an  utter  ig-norance  of,  or  disrei^ard  to 
the  real  question  at  issue,  as  having-  fostered  the  mischievous 
pretensions  of  French  nationality,  and  as  having-,  by  the  vacilla- 
tion and  inconsistency  which  marked  it,  discouraged  loyalty  and 
fomented  rebellion.  Every  measure  of  clemency,  or  even  jus- 
tice, towards  their  opponents,  they  regard  with  jealousy,  as 
indicating  a  disposition  towards  that  conciliatory  policy  which 
is  the  subject  of  their  angry  recollection;  for  they  feel  that 
being  a  minority,  any  return  to  the  due  course  of  constitutional 
government  would  again  subject  them  to  a  French  majority ; 
and  to  this  I  am  persuaded  they  v/ould  never  peaceably  submit. 
They  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  they  will  not  tolerate  much 
longer  the  being  made  the  sport  of  parties  at  home,  and  that  if 
the  mother  country  forgets  what  is  due  to  the  loyal  and  enter- 
prising men  of  her  own  race,  they  must  protect  themselves.  In 
the  significant  language  of  one  of  their  own  ablest  advocates, 
they  assert  that  '  Lower  Canada  must  be  English,  at  the  ex- 
pense, if  necessary,  of  not  being  British.* " 

The  third  party,  which  is  the  American,  is  the  only  one  at 
present  inclined  to  move,  and  in  all  probability  they  will  com- 
mence as  soon  as  the  v»'inter  sets  in ;  for  however  opposed  to 
this  shameful  viohation  of  the  laws  of  nations  the  President, 
officers,  and  respectable  portion  of  the  American  Union  may  be, 
it  is  certain  that  the  majority  are  represenied  by  these  marau- 
ders, and  the  removal  of  our  troops  would  be  a  signal  for  imme- 
diate aggression. 

The  Americans  will  tell  you  that  the  sympathy,  as  they  term 
it,  only  exists  on  the  borders  of  the  lakes ;  that  it  extends  no 
further,  and  that  they  are  all  opposed  to  it,  &c.  Such  is  not  the 
case.  The  greatest  excitement  which  was  shown  any  where 
was  perhaps  at  Albany,  the  capital  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
on  the  Hudson  river,  and  two  hundred  miles  at  least  from  the 
boundary ;  but  not  only  there,  but  ever,  on  the  Mississippi  the 
feeling  was  the  same ;  in  fact,  it  was  the  feeling  of  the  majority. 
In  a  letter  I  received  the  other  day  from  a  friend  in  New  York, 
there  is  the  following  remark  : 

"  Bill  Johnson  (the  pirate  on  lake  Ontario)  held  his  levecfi 
here  during  the  winter.  They  were  thronged  with  all  the  best 
people  of  the  city." 

Now,  the  quaiter  from  whence  I  received  this  intelligence  is 
to  be  relied  upon ;  and  that  it  was  the  case  I  have  no  doubt. 
And  why  should  they  feel  such  interest  about  a  pirate  like  Bill 
Johnson]  Simply  because  he  had  assailed  the  English.  This 
may  appear  a  trifle ;  but  a  straw  thrown  up  shows  in  what  di- 
rection the  wind  blows. 

At  present  there  is  no  want  of  troops  to  defend  the  Canadas 
against  a  foreign  attack,  and  little  inclination  to  rebel  in  the 
provinces  themselves.  That  now  required  is,  tiiat  the  legisla- 
ture should  be  improved  so  as  to  do  justice  to  all  parties,  and 
such  an  encouragement  given  to  enterprise  and  industry  as  to 
induce  a  more  extended  emigration. 

Lord  Durham  has  very  correctly  observed,  that  it  is  not  now 


Ofjard  to 
chievous 
)  vacilla- 
i^alty  and 
;ven  jus- 
lousy,  as 
cy  which 
i'ee\  that 
titutionaJ 
majority : 
y  submit, 
ite  much 
nd  that  if 
nd  enter- 
)lves.  In 
advocates^ 
it  the  ex- 

ily  one  at 
will  coin- 
pposed  to 
President, 
n  may  be, 
ise  marau- 
for  imme- 

they  term 
extends  no 
is  not  the 
any  where 
"^ew  York, 
t  from  the 
sissippi  the 
G  majority, 
^ew  York, 

his  levees 
ill  the  best 

diligence  is 
e  no  doubt. 
te  like  Bill 
lish.  This 
in  what  di- 

tie  Canadas 
ebel  in  the 
the  le^isla- 
parties,  and 
lustry  as  to 

is  not  now 


MARRYAT  S  DIARY. 


239 


a  conflict  of  principles  between  the  English  and  French,  but  a 
conflict  of  the  two  races.     He  says : — 

"  I  expected  to  find  a  contest  between  a  government  and  a 
people :  I  found  two  nations  warring  in  the  bosom  of  a  single 
state  :  I  found  a  struggle,  not  of  principles,  but  of  races;  and  I 
perceived  that  it  would  be  idle  to  attempt  any  amelioration  of 
laws  or  institutions  until  we  could  first  succeed  in  terminating 
a  deadly  animosity  that  now  separates  the  inhabitants  of  Lower 
Canada  into  the  hostile  divisions  of  French  and  English." 

But  why  should  this  conflict  between  the  two  races  have 
taken  ploc  ■  :  r>ytly,  because  the  French,  by  the  injudicious 
generosity  or  our  Government  in  allowing  them  to  retain  their 
language  in  public  afiairs,  with  all  their  customs  and  usages, 
were  allowed  to  remain  a  French  colony,  instead  of  amalgama- 
ting them  with  the  English,  as  might  have  been  done.  Subse- 
quently, because  the  interests  of  the  English  colonists  have  been 
sacrificed  to  the  French,  who,  nevertheless,  became  disaffected, 
and  would  have  thrown  off  the  English  dominion.  Lord  Dur- 
ham very  correctly  adds : — 

"  Such  is  the  lamentable  and  hazardous  stato  of  things  pro- 
duced by  the  conflict  of  races  which  has  so  lonij  divided  the 
province  of  Lower  Canada,  and  which  has  assumed  the  formida- 
ble and  irreconcilable  character  which  I  have  depicted." 

In  describing  the  nature  of  this  conflict,  I  have  specified  the 
causes  in  which  it  originated ;  and  though  I  have  mentioned  the 
conduct  and  constitution  of  the  colonial  government,  as  modify- 
ing the  character  of  the  struggle,  I  have  not  attributed  to  politi- 
cal causes  a  state  of  things  which  would,  I  believe,  under  any 
political  institutions  have  resulted  from  the  very  composition  of 
society.  A  jealousy  between  two  races,  so  long  habituated  to 
regard  each  other  with  hereditary  enmity,  and  so  differing  in 
habits,  in  language,  and  in  laws,  would  have  been  inevitable 
under  any  form  of  government.  That  liberal  institutions  and 
prudent  policy  might  have  changed  the  character  of  the  strug- 
gle, I  have  no  doubt ;  but  they  could  not  have  prevented  it ;  they 
could  only  have  softened  its  character,  and  brought  it  more 
speedily  to  a  more  decisive  and  peaceful  conclusion.  Unhappily, 
however,  the  system  of  government  pursued  in  Lower  Canada 
has  been  based  on  the  the  policy  of  perpetuating  that  very  sepa- 
ration of  the  races,  and  encouraging  these  very  notions  of  con- 
flicting nationalities  which  it  ouoht  to  have  been  the  first  and 
chief  care  of  Government  to  check  and  extinguish.  From  the 
period  of  the  conquest  to  the  present  time,  the  conduct  has  ag- 
gravated the  evil,  and  the  origin  of  ihe  present  extreme  disorder 
may  be  found  in  the  institutions  by  which  the  character  of  the 
colony  was  determined." 

We  have,  therefore,  to  legislate  between  the  two  parties, 
and  let  us,  previous  to  entering  upon  the  question,  examine  into 
their  respective  merits.  On  the  one  hand  we  have  a  French 
population  who,  after  having  received  every  favour  which  could 
be  granted  with  a  due  regard  to  freedom,  have  insisted  upon, 
and  have  obtained  much  more,  and  who  in  return  for  all  the  kind 


ir 


240 


MARRYAT  S   DIARY. 


■if! 


m  !i  ■' 


ness  heaped  upon  them,  excited  by  envy  and  jealousy  of"  an 
energy  and  enterprise  of  which  they  were  incapable,  have  risen 
tn  rebellion,  with  the  hopes  of  making  themselves  anindepend- 
ant  nation. 

On  the  other  hand  we  have  a  generous,  high-spirited  race  of 
our  own  blood,  and  migrating  from  our  own  soil,  who  having  been 
unfairly  treated,  and  having  just  grounds  of  complaint  against 
the  mother-country,  have  nevertheless  forgotten  their  own 
wrongs,  and,  to  a  man,  flown  to  arms,  willing  to  shed  their 
blood  in  defence  of  the  mother-country. 

Add  to  this,  we  have  the  French  inhabiting  a  comparatively 
sterile  country,  without  activity  or  enterprise ;  the  English,  in  a 
country  fertile  to  excess,  possessing  most  of  the  capital,  and  the 
only  portion  of  the  colonists  to  whom  we  can  safely  confide  the 
defence  of  that  which  I  trust  I  have  proved  to  the  reader  to  be 
the  most  important  outpost  in  the  English  dominions.  Bearing 
all  this  in  mind,  and  also  remembering  that  if  the  emigration  to 
Upper  Canada  again  revive,  that  this  latter  population  will  in 
a  few  years  be  an  immense  majority,  and  will  ultimately  wholly 
swallow  up  all  the  fcnier,  we  may  now  proceed  to  consider 
what  should  be  the  policy  of  the  mother-country. 


li 


CHAPTER  V. 

In  the  last  chapter  I  pointed  out  that  in  our  future  legisktion 
for  these  provinces,  we  had  to  decide  between  the  English  and 
French  inhabitants ;  up  to  the  present  the  French  have  been  in 
power,  and  have  been  invariably  favoured  by  the  Government, 
much  to  the  iiijury  of  the  English  population.  Before  I  otfer 
any  opinion  on  this  question,  let  us  inquire  what  has  been  the 
conduct  of  the  French  in  their  exercise  of  their  rights  as  a  Le- 
gislative Assembly,  and  what  security  they  offer  us,  to  incline 
us  again  to  put  confidence  in  them.  In  examining  into  this 
question,  I  prefer,  as  a  basis,  the  Report  of  Lord  Durham,  mace 
to  the  English  Parliament.  His  lordship,  adverting  to  the  state 
of  hostility  between  the  representative  and  executi'  e  powers  in 
our  colonies,  prefaces  with  a  remark  relative  to  our  own  coun- 
try, which  I  think  late  events  do  not  fully  bear  out ;  he  says: 

"However  partial  the  monarch  might  be  to  particular  minis- 
ters, or  however  he  might  have  personally  committed  himself  to 
their  policy,  he  has  been  invariably  constrained  to  abandon  both 
as  soon  as  the  opinion  of  the  people  has  been  irrevocably  pro- 
nounced against  them,  through  the  medium  of  the  House  of 
Commons." 

This  he  repeats  in  an  after  part  of  the  Report : 

"  When  a  ministry  ceases  to  command  a  majority  in  Pari  la- 
ment on  great  questions  of  policy,  its  doom  is  immediately  sealed ; 
and  it  would  appear  to  us  as  strange  to  attempt,  for  any  time,  to 
carry  on  a  Government  by  means  of  ministers  perpetually  in  a 
minority,  as  it  would  be  to  pass  laws  with  a  majority  of  votes 
against  them." 


MARRYAt's   DIARY. 


241 


y  of  an 
ve  risen 
(lepend- 

race  of 
inir  been 

against 
eir  own 
ed  their 

iratively 
lish,  in  a 

and  the 
ifide  the 
er  to  be 

Bearing 
^ration  to 
n  will  in 
y  wholly 

consider 


egisktion 
iglish  and 
e  been  in 
i^ernment, 
re  I  otFer 
5  been  the 
s  as  a  Le- 
to  incline 
r  into  this 
lam,  made 
)  the  state 
powers  in 
)wn  coun- 
le  says : 
ihr  minis- 
himself  to 
indon  both 
icably  pro- 
House  of 


in  Parlia- 
jly  sealed ; 
ly  time,  to 
Lually  in  a 
Ly  of  votes 


if  sutjh  be  an  essential  part  of  our  constitution,  as  his  lordship 
asserts,  surely  we  have  suffered  an  inroad  into  it  lately. 

That  the  system  of  Colonial  Government  is  defective,  I  grant, 
but  it  is  not  so  much  from  the  check  which  the  LegisTative 
Council  puts  upon  the  Representative  Assembly,  as  from  the 
«ecresy  of  th«  acts  and  decisions  of  that  council.  This,  indeed, 
his  lordship  admits  in  some  cases,  and  1  think  that  I  can  fully 
establish  that,  without  this  salutary  check,  the  Legislative  As- 
sembly of  Lower  Canada  would  have  soon  voted  themselves 
Free  and  Independent  States,     Lord  Dur-ham  observes : — 

*♦  I  am  far  from  concurring  in  the  censure  which  the  Assembly 
and  its  advocates  have  attempted  to  cast  on  the  acts  of  the 
Legislative  Council.  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  many 
of  the  bills  which  it  is  most  severely  blamed  for  rejecting,  were 
bills  which  it  could  not  have  passed  without  a  dereliction  of  its 
duty  to  the  constituiion,  the  connexion  with  Great  Britain,  and 
the  whole  English  population  of  the  colony.  If  there  is  any 
censure  to  be  passed  on  its  general  conduct,  it  is  for  having  con- 
fined itself  to  the  m«rely  negative  and  defensive  duties  of  a 
legislative  body  ;  for  having  too  frequently  contented  itself  with 
merely  defeating  objectionable  methods  of  obtaining  desirable 
ends,  without  completing  its  duty  by  proposing  measures,  which 
would  have  achieved  the  good  in  view  without  the  mixture  of 
evil.  The  national  animosities  which  pervaded  the  legislation 
of  the  Assembly,  and  its  thorough  wan-t  of  legislative  skill  or 
respect  for  constitutional  principles,  rendered  almost  all  its  bills 
obnoxious  to  the  objections  made  by  the  Legislative  Council ; 
and  the  serious  evil  which  their  enactment  would  have  occa- 
sioned, convinces  me  that  the  colony  has  reason  to  congratulate 
itself  on  the  existence  of  an  institution  whi'^h  possessed  and  used 
the  power  of  stopping  a  course  of  legislation  that,  if  successful, 
would  have  sacrificed  every  British  interest,  and  overthrown  every 
guarantee  if  order  and  national  liberty. ^^ 

Again : — 

"  One  glaring  attempt  which  was  made  directly  and  openly 
to  subvert  the  constitution  of  the  country,  was,  by  passing  a  bill 
for  the  formal  repeal  of  those  parts  of  the  31  Geo.  3,  c.  31,  com- 
monly called  the  Constitutional  Act,  by  which  the  constitution 
and  powers  of  the  Legislative  Council  were  established.  It 
can  hardly  be  supposed  that  the  framers  of  this  bill  were  un- 
aware, or  hoped  to  make  any  concealment  of  the  obvious  ille- 
gality of  a  measure,  which,  commencing  as  all  Canadian  Acts 
do,  by  a  recital  of  the  31  Geo.  3,  as  the  foundation  of  the  legis- 
lative authority  of  the  Assembly,  proceeded  immediately  to 
infringe  some  of  the  most  important  provisions  of  that  very 
statute;  nor  can  it  be  supposed  that  the  Assembly  hoped  rrally 
to  carry  into  effect  this  extraordinary  assumption  of  power,  inas- 
much as  the  bill  could  derive  no  legal  effect  from  passing  the 
Lower  House,  unless  it  should  subsequently  receive  the  assent 
of  the  very  body  which  it  purported  to  annihilate." 

Take  again  the  following  observations  of  his  lordship  : — 

*^  But  the  evils  resulting  from  such  opena  itempts  to  dispsose 

21 


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3fARRYAT's    DIARY. 


with  the  constitution  were  small,  in  comparison  with  the  dis-* 
turbance  of  the  regular  course  of  Ipgislation  by  systematic  abuse 
of  constitutional  forms,  for  the  purpose  of  depriving  the  other 
branches  of  the  legislature  of  all  real  legislative  authority. 

"  It  remained,  however,  for  the  Assembly  of  Lower  Canadu 
to  reduce  the  practice  to  a  regular  system,  in  order  that  it  might 
have  the  most  important  institutions  of  the  province  periodically 
at  its  mercy,  and  use  the  necessities  of  the  government  and  the 
community  for  the  purpose  of  extorting  the  concession  of  what- 
ever demands  it  might  choose  to  make.  Objectionable  in  itself, 
on  account  of  the  uncertainty  and  continual  changes  which  it 
tended  to  introduce  into  legislation,  this  system  of  temporary 
laws  derived  its  worst  character  from  the  facilities  which  it 
afforded  to  the  practice  of  ♦  tacking'  together  various  legislative 
measures. 

"A  singular  instance  of  this  occurred  in  1830,  with  respect 
to  the  renewal  of  the  jury  law,  to  which  the  Assembly  attached 
great  importance,  and  to  which  the  Legislative  Council  felt  a 
strong  repugnance,  on  account  of  its  having  in  effect  placed  the 
juries  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  French  portion  of  the  popula- 
tion. In  order  to  secure  the  renewal  of  this  law,  the  Assembly 
coupled  it  in  the  same  bill  by  which  it  renewed  the  tolls  of  the 
Lachine  ('anal,  calculating  on  the  Council  not  venturing  to 
defeat  a  measure  of  so  much  importance  to  the  revenue  as  the 
latter  by  resisting  the  former.  The  council,  however,  rejected 
the  bill :  and  thus  the  canal  remained  toll-free  for  a  whole 
season,  because  the  two  Houses  differed  about  a  jury  law." 

So  imuch  for  their  attempts  to  subvert  the  constitution.  Now 
let  us  inquire  how  far  these  patriots  were  disinterested  in  their 
enactments.  First,  as  to  grants  for  local  improvements,  how 
were  they  applied  1     His  lordship  observes  : — 

"The  great  business  of  the  Assemblies  is,  literally,  parish 
business;  the  making  parish  roads  and  parish  bridges.  There 
are  in  none  of  these  provinces  any  local  bodies  possessing 
authority^  to  impose  local  assessments,  for  the  management  of 
local  afiViirs.  To  do  these  things  is  the  business  of  the  Assem- 
bly  ;  and  to  induce  the  Assembly  to  attend  to  the  particular 
interests  of  each  county,  is  the  especial  business  of  its  county 
member.  The  surplus  revenue  of  the  province  is  swelled  to  as 
large  an  amount  as  possible,  by  cutting  down  the  payment  ot 
pul)lic  services  to  as  low  a  scale  as  possible;  and  the  real 
duties  of  government  are,  sometimes,  insufficiently  provided  for, 
in  order  that  more  may  be  left  to  be  divided  among  the  con- 
stituent bodies.  *  When  we  want  a  bridge,  we  lake  a  judge  to 
build  it.'  was  the  quaint  and  forcible  way  in  which  a  member 
of  a  |)rovincial  legislature  described  the  tendency  to  retrench,  in 
the  most  necessary  departments  of  the  public  service,  in  order 
to  satisfy  the  demands  for  local  works.  This  fund  is  voted  by 
the  A^sembly  on  (he  motion  of  its  members;  the  necessity  of 
obtaining  the  previous  consent  of  the  Crown  to  money  votes 
never  having  been  adopted  by  the  Colonial  Legislatures  from 
Ihe  practice  of  the  Biitish  House  of  Commonst    There  is  a 


MARRY AT's   diary. 


343 


perfect  scramble  among  the  whole  body  to  get  as  much  as  pos- 
sible of  this  fund  for  their  respective  constituents;  cabals  arc 
formed,  by  which  the  different  members  mutually  play  into 
each  other's  hands;  general  politics  are  made  to  he^r  on  private 
business,  and  private  business  on  general  politics ;  and  at  the 
close  of  the  Parliament,  the  member  who  has  succeeded  in 
secuiing  the  largest  portion  of  the  prize  for  his  constituents, 
renders  an  easy  account  of  his  stewardship,  with  corifident 
assurance  of  his  re-elnctioti. 

"  Not  only  did  the  leaders  of  the  Lower  Canadian  Assotnbly 
avail  iho^mselves  of  the  patronage  thus  afforded,  by  the  large 
surplus  revenue  of  the  province,  but  they  turned  this  system  to 
much  greater  account,  by  tising  it  to  obtain  injlucnce  over  the 
constituencies. 

"Tiie  majority  of  the  Assembly  of  Lower  Canada  iri  accused 
by  its  opponents  of  having,  in  the  most  systematic  and  persever- 
ing manner,  employed  this  means  of  corrupting  the  electoral 
bodies.  The  adherents  of  M.  Papineau  are  said  to  have  been 
lavish  in  their  promises  of  the  benefits  which  they  could  obtain 
from  the  Assembly  for  the  county,  whose  suffrages  tliey  solicited. 
By  such  representations,  the  return  of  members  of  opposition 
politics  is  asserted,  in  many  instances,  to  have  been  secured  ; 
and  obstinate  counties  are  alleged  to  have  been  sometimes 
starved  into  submission,  by  an  entire  withdrawal  of  grants,  until 
they  returned  members  favourable  to  the  majority.  JSouie  of  the 
English  members  who  voted  with  M.  Papineau,  excused, 
themselves  to  their  countrymen  by  alleging  that  they  were 
compelled  to  do  so,  in  order  to  get  a  road  or  a  bridge,  which 
their  constituents  desired.  Whether  it  be  true  or  false,  that  the 
abuse  was  ever  carried  to  such  a  pilch,  it  is  obviously  one, 
which  might  have  been  easily  and  safely  perpetrated  by  a  person 
possessing  M.  Papineau's  influence  in  the  Assembly." 

Next  for  the  grants  for  public  education. 

"  But  the  most  bold  and  extensive  attempt  for  erecting  u 
system  of  patronage,  wholly  independent  of  the  Gover.iment. 
was  that  which  was,  for  some  time,  carried  into  effect  by  the 
grants  for  education  made  by  the  Assembly,  and  regulated  by 
the  Act,  which  the  Legislative  Council  has  been  most  bitterly 
reproached  with  refusing  to  renew.  It  has  been  stated,  as  a 
proof  of  the  deliberate  intention  of  the  Legislative  0)uucil  tf 
crush  every  attempt  to  civilize  and  elevate  ilie  great  nia^s  of  the 
people,  that  it  thus  stopped  at  once  the  working  of  about  l,00O 
schools,  and  deprived  of  education  no  less  than  40,000  scholars, 
who  were  actually  profiting  by  the  means  of  instruction  thus 
pla«;ed  within  their  reach.  But  the  reasons  which  induced,  or 
rather  compelled,  the  Legislative  Council  to  stop  this  system, 
are  clearly  stated  in  the  Report  of  that  body,  which  contains  the 
most  unanswerable  justification  of  the  course  which  it  pursued. 
By  that  it  appears,  that  the  whole  superintendence  and  patronage 
of  these  scliools  had,  by  the  expired  law,  been  vested  in  the 
hands  of  the  county  members;  and  they  had  been  allowed  to 


I 

fij: 
i 


I 


if! 


244 


MARRY AT's    DIARV. 


' !  : 


.i'  I' 


t; 


'it    J   "'r 


SIM- 


H' 


manage  the  funds,  without  even  the  semblance  of  snfficieRC 
accountability.  The  Members  of  the  Assembly  had  thus  it 
patronage,  in  this  single  department,  of  about  £35,000  per 
annum,  an  amount  equal  to  half  of  the  whole  ordinary  civil 
expenditure  of  the  Province.  They  were  not  slow  ir  profiting 
by  the  occasion  thus  placed  in  their  iiands;  and  as  theie  existed 
in  the  Province  no  sufficient  supply  of  competent  schoolmasMers 
and  mistresses,  they  nevertheless  immediately  filled  up  the 
appointments  with  persons  who  were  utterly  and  obviously 
incompetent,  A  great  proportion  of  the  teachers  could  neither  read 
nor  write.  The  gentleman  whom  I  directed  to  inquire  into  the 
state  of  education  in  the  Province,  showed  me  a  petition  from 
certain  schoolmasters,  which  had  come  into  his  hands;  and 
the  majority  of  the  signatures  were  those  of  marks-men.  These 
ignorant  teachers  could  convey  no  useful  instruction  to  their 
pupils  ;  the  utmost  amount  which  they  taught  them  was  to  say 
the  Catechism  by  role.  Even  within  seven  miles  of  Montreal, 
there  was  a  schoolmistress  thus  unqualified.  These  appoint- 
ments were,  as  might  have  been  expected,  jobbed  by  the 
members  among  the  political  partisans ;  nor  were  the  fund& 
very  honestly  managed.  In  many  cases  the  members  were 
suspected,  or  accused,  of  misapplying  them  to  their  own  use ; 
and  in  the  case  of  Beauhamois,  where  the  seigneur,  Mr.  Ellice, 
has,  in  the  same  spirit  of  judicious  liberality  by  which  his  whole 
management  of  that  extensive  property  has  been  marked, 
contributed  most  largely  towards  the  education  of  his  tenants,  the 
school  funds  were  proved  to  have  been  misappropriated  by  the 
county  member.  The  whole  system  was  a  gross  political 
abuse;  and,  however  laudable  we  must  hold  the  exertions  of 
those  who  really  laboured  to  relieve  their  country  from  the 
reproach  of  being  the  least  furnished  with  the  means  of  educatioii 
of  any  on  the  North  American  continent,  the  more  severely  must 
we  condemn  those  who  sacrificed  this  noble  end,  and  perverted 
ample  means  to  serve  the  purposes  of  party." 

We  will  now  claim  the  support  of  his  lordship  upon  another 
(inestron,  which  is,  how  far  is  it  likely  that  the  law  will  be  duly 
administered"  if  the  power  is  to  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  French 
Canadian  population?  Speaking  of  the  Commi-ssioners  of  Small 
Causes,  his  lordship  observes — 

"  1  shall  only  add,  that  some  time  previous  to  my  leaving  the 
Province,  }  was  very  warmly  and  forcibly  urged,  b-y  the  highest 
legal  anthoritiesin  the  country,  to  abolish  all  these  tribunals  at 
once,  on  the  ground  that  a  great  many  of  them,  being  composed 
entirely  of  disaffected  French  Canadians,  were  busily  occupied 
in  harassing  loyal  subjects,  by  entertaining  actions  against  them 
on  account  of  the  part  they  had  taken  in  the  late  insurrection^ 
There  is  no  appeal  from  their  decision ;  and  it  was  stated  that 
they  had  in  the  most  barefaced  manner  given  damages  against 
loyal  persons  for  acts  done  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty,  and 
judgments  by  default  against  persons  who  were  absent,  as 
volunteers  in  the  service  of  the  Queen,  a-nd  enforced  tkek 
judgment  by  levying  distresses  on  their  property." 


MAftHYAT^S   DIARV. 


245 


Relative  to  the  greatest  preroffative  of  an  Englishman,  the 
trial  by  jury,  his  lordship  observes— 

"But  the  most  serious  mischief  in  the  administration  of 
criminal  justice,  arises  from  the  entire  perversion  of  the  institu- 
tion of  juries,  by  the  political  and  national  prejudices  of  tlio 
people.  The  trial  by  jury  was  introduced  with  the  rest,  of  ihv 
English  criminal  law.  For  a  long  time  the  composition  of  boih 
grand  and  petit  juries  wns  settled  by  the  governor,  vnid  ihey 
were  at  first  taken  from  the  cities,  which  were  the  chefs  liciix  of 
the  district.  Complaints  were  made  lliat  this  gave  an  undue 
preponderance  to  the  iJritish  in  those  cities  ;  though,  from  the 
proportions  of  the  population,  it  is  not  very  obvious  how  they 
could  thereby  obtain  more  than  an  equal  share.  Inconsequence, 
however,  of  these  complaints,  an  order  was  issued  under  the 
government  of  Sir  .lames  Kempt,  directing  the  sheriffs  t.  take 
the  juries  not  only  from  the  ciiies,  but  from  the  adjacent  country, 
for  fifteen  leagues  in  every  direction.  Au  Act  was  siii).se(juent- 
]y  passed,  commonly  called  *  Mr,  Viger's  .fury  Act,'  exieiidiiig 
these  limits  to  those  of  the  district.  'l'lieprin(Mple  of  lakiiiijthe 
jury  from  the  whole  district  to  which  the  jurisdiction  nf  the 
court  extended,  is,  undoubtedly,  in  conlurnuty  with  the  princi- 
ples of  English  law  ;  and  Mr.  Viger's  Act,  adopting  the  other 
regulations  of  the  English  jury  law,  provided  a  fair  selection  of 
juries.  But  if  we  consider  the  hostility  an<l  proportions  of  the 
two  races,  the  practical  effect  of  this  law  was  to  give  the  French 
an  entire  preponderance  in  the  juries.  Tiiis  Act  was  one  of  the 
temporary  Acts  of  the  Assembly,  and,  having  expired  in  18.30, 
the  Legislative  Council  refused  to  renew  it.  8ince  that  period, 
there  has  been  no  jury  law  whatever.  The  composition  ot  the 
juries  has  been  altogether  in  the  hands  of  the  Government; 
private  inslructiot;s,  however,  have  been  given  to  the  sheriff"  to 
act  in  conformity  with  Sir  .Tames  Kempt's  ordinance  ;  hut  though 
he  has  always  done  so,  the  public  have  had  no  security  for  any 
fairness  in  the  selection  of  the  juries,  'i'here  was  no  visible 
check  on  the  sherlfi';  the  public  knew  that  he  cotilfl  puck  a  jury 
whenever  he  pleased,  and  supposed,  as  a  matter  of  course,  that 
an  officer,  holding  a  lucrative  appointment  at  the  pleasure  ol 
(iovernment,  would  be  ready  to  carry  into  effect  those  unfair 
designs  which  the}'  were  always  ready  to  attribute  to  tlie 
Government.  When  I  arrived  in  the  Province,  the  public  were 
expecting  the  trials  of  the  persons  accused  of  participation  in 
the  late  insurrection.  I  was,  on  the  one  hand,  informed  by  the 
iaw  officers  of  the  Crown,  and  the  highest  judicial  authorities, 
that  not  the  slightest  chance  existed,  under  any  fair  system  ol 
getting  a  jury,  that  would  convict  any  of  tin  «e  men,  however 
clear  the  evidence  of  their  guilt  might  be  ;  and,  on  the  other  side, 
I  was  given  to  understand,  that  the  prisoners  auvi  their  friends 
supposed  that,  as  a  matter  of  course,  they  v/ould  be  tried  by 
packed  juries,  and  that  even  the  most  clearly  innocent  of  theiii 
would  be  convicted. 

"  It  is,  indeed,  a  lamentable  fact  which  must  not  be  coKceal- 
ed,  tiiat  there  does  not  exist  in  the  minds  of  the  people  of  this 


1 , 


i 


i; 


i 


I 


H 


I 


■!i; 


Rl    ■ 


Ml 


;i?i 


B  if 


r  ■. '   ! 


246 


MARRYAT*!!*   DXARV. 


Provinces  the  slightest  confidenre  in  the  adminiatratmn  0/ 
criminal  justice;  nor  were  the  complaints,  or  the  apparent 
grounds  for  them,  confined  to  one  party. 

"The  trial  hyjnry  is,  thereft)r«',  at  the  present  moment,  not 
only  productive  in  Lower  Canada  of  no  confidence  in  the  honest 
administration  of  the  laws,  but  also  provides  impunrty  for  every 
political  offence." 

1  have  made  these  long  quotations  from  Lord  Durham's  Re- 
port as  his  lordship's  authority,  he  having  been  sent  out  as  Lord 
High  Commissioner  to  the  Province,  to  make  the  necessary 
inquiries,  must  carry  more  weight  with  the  |mblic  than  any 
observations  of  mine.  All  I  can  do  is  to  assert  that  his  lordship 
is  very  accurate ;  and,  having  made  this  assertion,  I  ask,  what 
chance,  therefore,  is  there  of  good  government,  if  the  power,  or 
any  portion  of  the  power,  be  left  in  the  hands  of  those  who  have 
in  every  way  proved  themselves  so  adverse  to  good  government, 
and  who  have  wound  up  such  conduct  by  open  rebellion. 

The  position  of  the  Executive  in  Canada  has,  foralongwhilcr 
been  just  what  our  position  in  this  country  would  be  if  the 
House  of  Commons  were  composed  of  Chartist  leaders.  Every 
act  brought  forward  by  them  would  tend  to  revolution,  and  be 
an  infringement  of  the  Constitution,  and  all  that  the  House  of 
Lords  would  have  to  do,  would  be  firmly  to  reject  every  bill 
carried  to  the  Upper  House.  If  our  House  of  Commons  were 
filled  with  rebels  and  traitors,  the  Government  must  stand  still, 
and  such  has  been  for  these  ten  years  the  situation  of  the  Cana- 
dian government;  and,  fortunate  it  is,  that  the  out-break  has  now 
put  us  in  a  position  that  will  enable  us  to  retrieve  our  error,  and 
re-mndel  the  constitution  of  these  Provinces.  The  questions- 
which  must  therefore  be  settled  previous  to  any  fresh  attempts 
at  legislation  for  these  Canadians,  are, — are,  or  are  iioi,  the 
French  population  to  have  any  share  in  itl  Can  they  be  trusted? 
Are  they  in  any  way  deserving  of  it?  In  few  words,  are  the 
Canadas  to  be  hereafter  considered  as  a  French  or  an  English 
colony? 

When  we  legislate,  unless  we  intend  to  change,  we  mast  look 
to  futurity.  The  question,  then,  is  not,  who  are  the  majority  of 
to-day,  but  who  will  hereafter  be  the  majority  in  the  Canadian 
Provinces;  for  all  agree  upon  one  point,  which  i«,  that  we  must 
legislate  for  the  majority.  At  present,  the  population  is  nearly 
equal,  but  every  year  increases  the  preponderance  of  the  English; 
and  it  is  to  be  trusted  that,  by  good  management,  and  the  en- 
couragement of  emigration,  in  half  a  century  the  French  popula- 
tion will  be  so  swallowed  up  by  the  English,  as  to  be  remembered* 
but  on  record.  If,  again,  we  put  the  elaims  of  British  loyalty 
against  the  treason  of  the  French — the  EngliBh  energy,  activity, 
and  capital,  in  opposition  to  the  supineness,  ignorance,  and  in- 
capacity of  the  French  population, — it  is  evident^  that  not  only 
in  justice  and  gralitnde,  but  with  a  due  regard  to  our  own  inter- 
ests, the  French  Canadians  must  now  be  wholly  deprived  of  any 
share  of  that  power  which  they  have  abused,  and  that  confidence 
of  which  they  have  proved  themselves  so  unworthy.     I  am 


MARftVAT^S   DIARY. 


247 


madh  pleased  to  find  that  Lord  Durham  has  expressed  the  same 
opinion,  in  the  followingr  remarks;  and  I  trust  their  importance 
will  excuse  to  the  reader  the  length  of  the  quotation. 

"The  English  have  already  in  their  hands  the  majority  of  the 
larger  masses  of  property  in  the  country  ;  thoy  have  the  decided 
superiority  of  intelligence  on  Ihoir  side;  they  have  the  certainty 
that  colonization  must  swell  their  numbers  to  a  majority;  and 
they  belong  to  the  race  which  wields  the  Imperial  Government, 
and  predominates  on  the  American  continent.  If  we  now  leave 
them  in  a  minority,  they  will  never  abandon  the  assurance  of 
being  a  majority  hereafter^  and  never  cease  to  continu3  the  present 
contest  with  all  the  fierceness  with  which  it  now  rages.  In 
such  a  contest,  they  will  rely  on  the  sympathy  of  their  country- 
men at  home ;  and  if  that  is  denied  them,  they  feel  very  confident 
of  being  able  to  awaken  the  sympathy  of  their  neighbours  of 
kindred  origin.  They  feel  that  if  the  British  Government  intends 
to  maintain  its  hold  of  the  Canadas,  it  can  rely  on  the  English 
population  alone ;  that  if  it  abandons  its  colonial  possessions, 
they  must  become  a  portion  of  that  great  Union  which  will 
speedily  send  forth  its  swarms  of  settlers,  and,  by  force  of  num- 
bers and  activity,  quickly  master  every  other  race.  The  French 
Canadians,  on  the  other  hand,  are  but  the  remains  of  an  ancient 
colonization,  and  are  and  ever  must  be  isolated  in  the  midst  of 
an  Anglo-Saxon  world.  Whatever  may  happen,  whatever  gov- 
ernment shall  be  established  over  them,  British  or  American, 
they  can  see  no  hope  for  their  nationality.  They  can  only  sever 
themselves  from  the  British  empire  by  waiting  till  some  general 
cause  of  dissatisfaction  alienates  them,  together  with  the  sur- 
rounding colonies,  and  leaves  them  part  of  an  English  confede- 
racy ;  or,  if  they  are  able,  by  effecting  a  separation  singly,  and 
so  either  merging  in  the  American  Union,  or  keeping  up  for  a 
few  years  a  wretched  semblance  of  feeble  independence,  which 
would  expose  them  more  than  ever  to  the  intrusion  of  the  sur- 
rounding population.  I  am  far  from  wishing  to  encourage,  in- 
discriminately, these  pretensions  to  superiority  on  the  part  of 
any  particular  race  ;  but  while  the  greater  part  of  every  portion 
of  the  American  continent  is  still  uncleared  and  unoccupied,  and 
while  the  English  exhibit  such  constant  and  marked  activity  in 
colonization,  so  long  will  it  be  idle  to  imagine  that  there  is  any 
portion  of  that  continent  into  which  that  race  will  not  penetrate, 
or  in  which,  when  it  has  penetrated,  it  will  not  predominate. 
It  is  but  a  question  of  time  and  mode;  it  is  but  to  determine 
whether  the  small  number  of  French  who  now  inhabit  Lower 
Canada  shall  b&made  English,  under  a  government  which  can 
protect  them,  or  whether  the  process  shall  be  delayed  antil  a 
much  larger  number  shall  have  to  undergo,  at  the  rude  hands  of 
its  uncontrolled  rivals,  the  extinction  of  a  nationality  strengthen- 
ed and  embittered  by  continuance. 

"  And  is  this  French  Canadian  nationality  one  which,  for 
the  good  merely  of  that  people,  we  ought  to  strive  to  perpetuate 
even  if  it  were  possible  ?  I  know  of  no  national  distinctions 
marking  and   continuing    a  more  hopeless  inferiority.      The 


( 


\ 

'  I. 


i 


S48 


MARftVAT^S  DlARYi 


|,-'i 


.fir 


!r  ^  ■ 


languafjre,  the  laws,  the  character  of  the  North  American  Con* 
tinent  are  English  ;  and  every  race  but  the  English  (I  apply 
this  to  all  who  speak  the  English  language)  appears  there  in 
a  condition  of  inferiority.     It  t»  to  elevate  ihern  from  that  in- 
feriority that  I  desire  to  give  to  the  Canadians  our  English 
character     I  desire  it  for  the  sake  of  the  educated  classes, 
■whom  the  distinction  oi  language  and  muitiiors  keeps  apart  from 
the  great  empire  to  which  they  helong.     At  the  best,  the  fate  of 
the  educated  and  aspiring  colonist  is,  at  present,  one  of  little 
hope,  and  little  activity  ;  but  the  French  Canadian  is  cast  still 
further  into  the  shade,  hy  a  language  and  habits  foreign  to  those 
of  the  Imperial  Government.     A  spirit  of  exclusion  has  closed 
the  higher  professions  on  the  educated  classes  of  the  French 
Canadians,  more,  perhaps,  than  was  absolutely  iioces3ary  ;  but 
it  is  impossible  for  the  utmost  liberality  on  the  part  of  the 
British  Government  to  give  an  equal  position  in  the  general 
competition  of  its  vast  population  to  those  who  speak  a  i'oreign 
language.     I  desire  the  amalgamation  still  more  for  the  sake  of 
the  humhli-r  classes.     Their  present  state  of  rude  and  equal 
plenty  is  fiist  deteriorating  under  the  pressure  of  population  in 
the  narrovv  limits  to  which  they  are  confined.     If  tl»ey  attempt 
to  better  their  condition,    by  extending  themselves  over  the 
neighbouring  country,  they  will  necessarily  get  more  and  more 
minjiled  with  an  English  population  ;  if  they  prefer  remaining 
stationary,  tiie  greater  part  of  them  must  be  labourers  iu  the 
employ  of  English  capitalists.     In  either  case  it  would  appear, 
that  the  great  mass  of  the  French  Canadians  are  doomed,  in 
some  measure,  to   occupy  an  inferior  position,  and  to  be  de- 
pendent on  the  English  for  employment.     The  evils  of  poverty 
and    dependence    would   merely  be  aggravated    in  a  ten-fold 
degree,  by  a  spirit  of  jealous  and  resentful  nationality,  which 
siiould  separate  the  working  class  of  the  community  from  the 
possessors  of  wealth  and  employers  of  labour. 

"I  will  not  here  enter  into  the  question  of  the  effect  of  the 
mode  of  life  and  division  of*  property  among  the  French  Cana- 
dians, on  the  happiness  of  the  people.  I  will  admit,  for  the 
moment,  that  it  is  as  productive  of  well-being  as  its  admirers 
assert.  But,  be  it  good  or  bad,  the  period  in  which  it  is  practi- 
cable, is  past;  for  there  is  not  enouph  unoccupied  land  left  in 
that  portion  of  the  country  in  which  Ennlish  are  not  already 
settled,  to  admit  of  the  present  French  population  possessing 
farms  •  uflicient  to  supply  them  with  their  present  means  of 
comfort,  under  their  present  system  of  husbandry.  No  popu- 
lation has  increased  by  mere  births  so  rapidly  as  that  of  the 
French  Canadians  has  since  the  conquest.  At  that  period  their 
number  was  estimated  at  G0,000 :  it  is  now  supposed  to  amount 
to  more  than  seven  times  as  many.  There  has  lieeri  no  propor- 
tional increase  of  cultivation,  or  of  produce  from  the  land  already 
under  cultivation  ;  and  the  increased  population  has  been  in  a 
great  measure  provided  for  by  mere  continued  subdivision  of 
estates.  In  a  Report  from  a  Committee  of  the  Assembly  in 
182G,  of  which  Mr.  Andrew  Steuart  was  chairman,  it  is  stated, 


MARRYAT  S    DIARV. 


24f> 


lliat  since  1784  the  population  of  the  spigrnoriea  had  quadrupled, 
while  tho  number  of  cattle  had  only  doubled,  and  tho  qnaiitity 
of  land  in  cultivation  had  only  inoreascd  one*third.  Cornplaint$( 
nf  distress  are  constant,  and  the  deterioration  of  Uir  condition  ot 
a  great  part  of  the  population  admitted  on  all  hands.  A  people 
80  circumstanced  must  alter  their  mode  of  life.  If  they  wish  to 
maintain  the  same  kind  of  rude,  hut  well-provided  a^rricnltural 
existence,  it  must  be  by  removingr  into  those  parts  of  the  coun- 
try in  which  the  English  are  settled  ;  or  if  they  cling  to  their 
present  residence,  they  can  only  obtain  a  livelihood  by  deserting 
their  present  employment,  and  working  for  vrages  on  farms,  or 
on  commercial  occupations  under  English  capitalists.  But 
their  present  proprietary  and  inactive  condition  is  one  which  no 
political  arrangements  can  perpetuate.  Were  the  French  Cana- 
<lians  to  be  guarded  from  the  influx  of  any  other  population, 
their  condition  in  few  years  would  be  similar  to  that  of  the 
poorest  of  the  Irish  peasantry. 

*'  There  can  hardly  be  conceived  a  nationality  more  destitute 
of  all  that  can  invigorate  and  elevate  a  people,  than  that  which 
is  exhibited  by  the  descendants  of  the  French  in  Lower  Canada, 
owing  to  their  retaining  their  peculiar  language  and  manners. 
They  are  a  people  with  no  history,  and  no  literature.  The  liter- 
ature of  England  is  written  in  a  language  which  is  not  theirs; 
and  the  only  literature  which  their  language  renders  familiar  to 
them,  is  that  of  a  nation  from  which  they  have  been  separated 
by  eighty  years  of  a  foreign  rule,  and  still  more  by  those  changes 
which  the  Revolution  and  its  consequences  have  wrought  in  tho 
whole  political,  moral,  and  social  state  of  France.     Yet  it  is  on 
a  people  whom  recent  history,  manners,  and  modes  of  thought, 
so  entirely  separate  from  them,  that  the  French  Canadians  are 
wholly  dependent  for  almost  all  the  instruction  and  amusement 
derived  from  books :  it  is  on  this  essentially  foreign  literature, 
which  is  conversant  about  events,  opinions  and  habits  of  life, 
perfectly  strange  and  unintelligible  to  them,  that  they  are  com- 
pelled to  be  dependent.    Their  newspnpers  are  mostly  written 
by  natives  of  France,  who  have  either  come  to  try  their  fortunes 
in  the  province,  or  been  brought  into  it  by  the  party  leaders,  in 
order  to  supply  the  dearth  of  literary  talent  available  for  the  po- 
litical press.     In  the  same  way  their  nationality  operates  to  de- 
prive them  of  the  enjoyments  and  civilizing  influence  of  the  arts. 
Though  descended  from  the  people  in  the  world  that  most  gen- 
erally love,  and  have  most  successfully  cultivated  the  drama — 
though  living  on  a  con'inent,  in  which  almost  every  town,  great 
or  small,  has  an  English  theatre,  the  French   population   of 
Lower  Canada,  cut  oflf  from  every  people  that  speak  its  own 
language,  can  support  no  national  stage. 

"In  these  circumstances,  I  should  be  indeed  surprised  if  the 
more  reflecting  part  of  the  French  Canadians  entertained  at  pre- 
sent any  hope  of  continuing  to  preserve  their  nationality. 
Much  as  they  struggle  against  it,  it  is  obvious  that  the  process 
of  assimilation  to  English  habits  is  already  commencing.  The 
b^nglish  language  is  gaining  ground,  as  the  language  of  the  rich 


/^ 


( t 


If 


I 
I 


^} 


850 


MARRVAT*8    DIARY. 


?;  '.i  1, 


S 


and  of  the  employers  of  labour  naturally  will.  It  appeared  by 
Rome  of  the  ffw  leturns,  which  had  been  received  by  the  Com- 
missioner  of  Inquiry  into  the  statH  of  education,  that  there  are 
about  ten  times  the  number  of  French  children  in  Quebec  learn- 
incr  Englifth,  as  compared  with  the  Kn|/li8h  children  who  learn 
French.  A  considerable  time  must,  of  course,  elapse  before  the 
change  of  a  languasfe  can  spread  over  a  uhoie  people  ;  and  jus- 
tice and  policy  ulike  require,  tliat  while  the  peoplr  continue  tr) 
use  the  French  lantruaure,  their  government  should  t^ke  no  such 
means  to  forc«  the  Knglish  language  upon  tliem  as  would,  in 
fact,  deprive  the  great  mass  of  the  community  of  the  protection 
of  the  laws.  But,  1  repeat,  that  the  alteriilion  of  the  character 
of  the  province  ought  to  be  immediately  entered  on,  and  firmly, 
though  cautiously,  fidlowcd  up;  that  in  any  plan,  which  may 
he  adopted  for  the  future  management  of  Lower  Canada,  the 
first  object  ought  to  be  that  of  making  it  an  Fnglish  province; 
and  Ih  >:t,  with  this  end  in  view,  the  ascendancy  should  never 
again  be  placed  in  any  hands  but  those  of  an  Friglish  popula- 
tion. Indeed,  at  the  present  moment,  this  is  obviously  neces- 
sary :  in  the  slate  of  mind  in  which  1  have  described  the  French 
Canadian  population,  as  not  only  now  being,  but  as  likely  for  a 
long  while  to  remain,  the  trusting  them  with  an  entire  control 
over  this  province  would  be,  in  fact,  only  i^icilitating  a  reliellion. 
Lower  Canada  must  be  governed  now,  as  it  must  be  hereafter, 
by  an  English  population  ;  and  thus  the  policy,  which  the  ne- 
cessities of  the  moment  force  on  us,  is  in  accordance  with  that 
suggested  by  a  comprehensive  view  of  the  future  and  permanent 
improvement  of  the  province," 


CHAPTER  VL 

I  HAVE  quoted  largely  from  Lord  Durham's  Report,  as  in  most 
points  relative  to  Lower  Canada,  especially  as  to  the  causes 
which  produced  the  rebellion,  the  unwarrantable  conduct  of  the 
Legislative  Assembly,  and  his  opinions  as  to  the  charatier  of 
the  French  Canadians,  I  consider  that  the  remarks  are  co/rect : 
they  are  corroborated  by  my  own  opinions  and  observations:  but 
I  think  that  the  information  he  has  received  relative  to  Ujjper 
Canada  is  not  only  very  imperfect,  but  certainly  derived  trom 
parties  who  were  not  to  be  trusted  :  take  one  simple  instance. 
His  lordship  says  in  his  Report,  that  the  petitioners  in  favour  of 
Mathews  and  Lount,  who  were  executed,  amounted  to  30,000, 
whereas  it  is  established,  that  the  whole  number  of  signatures 
only  amounted  to  4,574.  Those  who  deceive  his  lordship  in  one 
point  would  deceive  him  in  another;  indeed  his  lordship  had  a 
task  of  peculiar  ditiiculiy,  going  out  as  he  did,  vested  with  such 
powers,  and  the  intents  of  his  mission  being  so  well  known.  It 
is  not  those  who  are  in  high  office  that  are  likely  to  ascertain 


'  =  '11. 


Ml' 


MARKVAT  8   DIARY. 


251 


ihe  truth,  whii  h  is  much  more  likely  to  hn  commnnicated  to  a 
liiinjhie  individual  liko  iuyH«df,  who  travels  throujrh  a  country 
a(ul  lieiirs  what  is  Haid  nu  hoth  sides.  Tho  eaunes  stated  hy  his 
Iordshi[)  for  disoonicni  in  Upper  (/'niiada  are  not  correct.  L  have 
helore  said,  and  I  repeal  it,  that  they  may  almost  he  rediicefl  to 
the  lollowiufr:  the  check  put  upon  their  euterprizo  and  industry 
hy  tlie  acts  ot'  the  F.ower  (Minadian  Assemhiy  ;  and  the  favour 
shown  to  the  Fretudi  hy  the  ('olonial  Olliee,  aided  l)y  the  ma- 
chinniioua  of  the  American  parly,  who  t'omouted  any  appearance 
of  discoulent. 

There  is  in  his  lordship's  Report,  an  apparent  leaninj/ towards 
the  United  Slates,  and  its  institutions,  at  which  I  confess  that  I 
am  surprised.  Why  his  lordship,  after  shewing  that  the  repre- 
sentative <rovernment  did  all  they  possihie  could  to  overthrow 
the  constitution,  should  propose  an  increase  of  power  to  that 
representative  jfovernment,  unless,  indeed,  ho  would  establish  a 
demoi'.racy  in  the  provinces,  1  am  at  a  loss  to  imarrine. 

That  a  representative  body  similar  to  that  which  attempted  to 
overturn  the  consiitutiou  in  Lower  Canada  can  work  well,  and 
even  usefully  reform  when  in  the  hands  of  loyal  English  subjects, 
is  ncknowledjred  by  his  lordship,  who  says,  "  the  course  of  the 
Parliamentary  contest  in  Upper  Canada  has  not  been  marked  hy 
that  sinirular  neglect  of  the  great  duties  of  a  legislative  body, 
which  1  have  remarked  in  the  proceedintja  of  the  Parliament  of 
Lower  Canada.  The  statute  book  of  the  Upper  Province 
abounds  with  useful  and  well-constructed  measures  of  reform, 
and  presents  an  honourable  contrast  to  that  of  the  Lower  Pro- 


»» 


vince 

Indeed,  unless  I  have  misunderstood  his  lordship  he  appears 
to  he  inconsistent,  for  in  one  portion  he  claims  the  extension  of 
the  power  of  the  representative,  and  in  another  he  complains  of 
the  want  of  vigorous  administration  of  the  royal  prerogative,  for 
he  says : — 

**  The  defective  system  of  administration  in  Lower  Canada, 
commences  at  the  very  source  of  power ;  and  the  efficiency  of 
the  public  service  is  impaired  throughout  by  the  entire  want  in 
the  colony  of  any  vigorous  administration  of  the  prerogative  of 
the  crown." 

To  increase  the  power  of  the  representative  is  to  increase  the 
power  of  the  people,  in  fact  to  make  them  the  source  of  power  ; 
and  yet  his  lordship  in  this  sentence  acknowledges  that  the 
crown  is  the  source  of  power,  and  that  a  more  vigoroHS  adminis- 
tration of  its  prerogative  is  required. 

There  are  other  points  commented  upon  in  his  lordship's 
Report,  which  claim  earnest  consideration  :  one  is,  that  of  the 

ttropriety  of  municipal  institutions.  Local  improvements,  when 
eft  in  the  hands  of  representative  assemblies,  are  seldom  judi- 
cious or  impartial,  and  should  therefore  be  made  over  either  to 
the  inhabitants  or  executive.  The  system  of  townships  has  cep- 
tainly  been  one  great  cause. of  the  prosperity  of  the  United 
States,  each  township  taxing  itself  for  its  own  improvements 
Although  the  great  roads  extending  through  the  whole  of  the 


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narrvat's  diary. 


Union  are  in  the  hands  of  the  Federal  Government,  and  tlic 
wStates  Government  take  up  the  improvement  on  an  extensive 
scale  in  the  States  themselves,  the  townships,  knowing  exactly 
what  they  require,  tax  themselves  for  their  minor  advantages. 
The  system  in  England  is  much  the  same,  although  perhaps  not 
so  well  regulated  as  in  America.  Are  not,  hov^ever,  municipal 
institutions  valuable  in  another  point  of  view  ?  Do  they  not 
prepare  the  people  for  legislating  ?  are  they  not  the  rudiments 
of  legislation  by  which  a  free  people  learn  to  tax  themselves  i^ 
And  indeed,  it  may  also  be  asked,  would  not  the  petty  influence 
and  authority  confided  to  those  who  are  ambitious  by  their 
townsmen  satisfy  their  ambition,  and  prevent  them  from  becoming 
demagogues  and  disturbing  the  country  1 

Whatever  may  be  the  future  arrangements  for  ruling  these 
provinces,  it  appears  to  nrie  that  there  are  two  great  evils  in  the 
present  system  ;  one  is,  that  the  governors  of  the  provinces 
have  not  sufficient  discretionary  power,  and  the  other  is,  that 
they  are  so  often  removed.  The  evils  from  the  first  cause  have 
been  pointed  out  in  Lord  Durham's  Report: — 

**  The  complete  and  unavoidable  ignorance  in  which  the 
British  public,  and  even  the  great  body  of  its  legislators,  are 
■with  respect  to  the  real  inte  ests  of  distant  communities,  so  en- 
tirely different  from  their  own,  produces  a  general  indifference, 
which  nothing  but  some  great  colonial  crisis  ever  dispels  ;  and 
responsibility  to  Parliament,  or  to  the  public  opinion  of  Great 
Britain,  would,  except  on  these  great  and  rare  occasions,  be 
positively  mischievous,  if  it  were  not  impossible.  The  repeated 
changes  caused  by  political  events  at  home  having  no  connexion 
with  colonial  affairs,  have  left,  to  most  of  the  various  represen- 
tatives of  the  Colonial  Department  in  Parliament,  too  little  time 
to  acquire  even  an  elementary  knowledge  of  the  condition  of 
those  numerous  and  heterogenous  communities  for  which  they 
have  both  to  administer  and  legislate.  The  persons  with  whom 
the  real  management  of  these  affairs  has  or  ought  to  have  rested, 
have  been  the  permanent  but  utterly  irresponsible  members  of 
the  oflice.  Thus  the  eal  government  of  the  colony  has  been 
entirely  dissevered  from  the  slight  nominal  responsibility  which 
exists.  Apart  even  from  this  great  and  primary  evil  of  the  sys- 
tem, the  presence  of  multifarious  bnsiness  thus  thrown  on  the 
Colonial  office,  and  the  repeated  changes  of  its  ostensible  direc- 
tors, have  produced  disorders  in  the  management  of  public 
business  wnich  have  occasioned  serious  mischief,  and  very 
great  irritation.  This  is  not  my  own  opinion  merely  :  for  I  do 
but  repeat  that  of  a  select  committee  of  the  House  of  Assembly 
in  Upper  Canada,  who,  in  a  Report  dated  February  8,  1838, 
say,  '  It  appears  to  your  committee,  that  one  of  the  chief  causes 
of  dissatisfaction  w  ith  the  administration  of  colonial  affairs  arises 
from  the  frequent  changes  in  the  office  of  secretary  of  state,  to 
whom  the  Colonial  department  is  entrusted.  Since  the  time  the 
late  Lord  Bathurst  retired  from  that  charge,  in  1827,  your  com- 
mittee believe  there  has  not  been  less  than  eight  colonial  minis* 
Iters,  and  that  the  policy  of  each  successive  statesinaa  has  been 


marryat's  diarv. 


*J53 


iTiOre  or  less  marked  by  a  difference  from  that  of  liis  predecessor. 
This  frequency  of  change  in  itself  almost  necessarily  entai^s 
two  evils; /rs/,  an  imperfect  knowledge  of  the  affairs  of  the 
colonies  on  the  part  of  the  chief  secretary,  and  the  conspquent 
necessity  of  submitting  important  details  to  the  subordinate 
officers  of  the  department;  and  second,  the  want  of  stability  and 
firmness  in  the  general  policy  of  the  Government,  and  which,  o1 
course,  creates  much  uneasiness  on  the  part  of  the  Governors, 
and  other  officers  of  the  colonies,  as  to  what  measures  may  be 
approved. 

*'  ♦  But  undoubtedly  (continues  the  Report)  by  far  the  greatest 
objection  to  the  system  is  the  impossibility  it  occasions  of  any 
colonial  minister,  unaided  by  persons  po>se^sing  IochI  know- 
ledge, becoming  acquainted  with  the  wants,  wishes,  feelings, 
and  prejudices  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  colonies,  during  iiis  tem- 
porary continuance  in  office,  and  of  decidinir  satisfactorily  upon 
the  conflicting  statements  and  claims  that  are  brought  before 
him.     A  firm,  unflinching  resolution  to  adhere  to  the  principles 
of  the  constitution,  and  to  maintain  the  just,  and  necessary  powers 
of  the  crown,  would  do  much  towards  supplying  the  want  of 
local  information.     But  it  would  be  performing  more  than  can 
be  reasonably  be  expebted  from  human  sagacity,  if  any  man,  or 
set  of  men,  should  always  decide  i.i  an  unexceptionable  manner 
on  subjects  that  have  their  origin  thousands  of  miles  from  lh« 
seat  of  the  Imperial  Government,  where  they  reside,  and  of 
which  they  have  no  personal  knowledge  whatever;  and  there- 
fore wrong  may  be  often  done  to  individuals,  or  a  false  view 
taken  of  some  important  political  question,  that  in  the  end  may 
throw  a  whole  community  into  difficulty  and  dissension,  not 
from  the  absence  of  the  most  anxious  desire  to  do  right,  but  from 
an  imperfect  knowledge  of  facts  upon  which  totorm  an  opinion.'  " 
This  is  all  very  true.     There  is  nothing  so  difficult  as  to 
legislate  for  a  colony  from  home.     The  very  best  theory  is  use- 
less ;  it  requires  that  you  should  be  on  the  spot  and  adapt  your 
measures  to  the  circumstances  and  the  growing  wants  of  the 
country.     1  may  add  that  it  is  wrong  for  the  Home  Government 
to  consider  the  Government  given  to  the  colony  as  permanent. 
All  that  the  mother-country  can  do  is  to  give  it  one,  which,  in 
theory,  appears  most  adapted  to  secure  the  true  freedom  and 
happiness  of  the  people;  but  leaving  that  form  of  government 
lo  be  occasionally  modified,  so  as  to  meet  with  the  changes,  the 
wants,  and  the  rising  interests  which  the  colony  may  require; 
all  of  which  being  unforeseen  could  not  be  provided   for  by  the 
foresight  of  man.     The  governor,  therefore,  of  a  colony  should 
be  invested  with  more  discretionary  power. 

The  constant  removal  of  the  governor  from  the  colony  is  also 
much  to  be  deprecated.  On^his  first  arrival,  he  can  only  have 
formed  theoretical  views,  which,  in  all  probability,  he  will  have 
to  discard  in  a  few  months.  He  finds  himself  surrounded  by 
people  in  office,  interested  in  their  own  peculiar  policy,  and 
viewing  things  through  their  own  medium,  in  all  colonics  yon 
'will  usually  findan  oligarchy,  cemented  by  mutual  interest,  and 

22 


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254 


MARR7AT  8  DIARY. 


family  connection,  and  so  bound  up  logellier  as  to  bfcome 
formidable  if  opposed  to  the  Government.  Into  the  hands  of 
ihese  people  a  governor  must,  to  a  certain  degree,  fall,  until  ho 
has  had  time  to  see  clearly  and  to  jiuitre  for  himself.  But  by  the 
time  that  he  has  just  disenthralled  himself,  he  is  removed,  and 
another  appointed  in  his  place,  and  the  work  has  to  commence 
(/e  nojo. 

Lord  Durham  has  proposed  that  the  Canadas  should  be  united, 
and  there  certainly  are  some  benefits  which  would  arise  could 
their  union  take  place.  He  asserts  most  positively  that  the 
French  party  must  be  annihilated.  He  says. — "  It  must  hence- 
forth be  the  lirst  and  steady  purpose  of  the  British  Government 
to  establish  an  English  population,  with  English  laws  and 
languaoro  in  this  province,  and  to  trust  its  government  to  none 
but  a  decidedly  English  legislature.''  This  is  plain  and  clear ; 
but  how  is  this  to  be  affected  ?  The  land  of  Lower  Canada  is 
still  in  the  hands  of  the  French,  and  nearly  five  hundred 
thousand  out  of  six  hundred  thousand  of  the  population  are 
French. 

How,  tlien,  are  we  to  make  the  Lower  Canadas  English  ? 
We  may  purchase  up  the  seigneuries  ;  we  may  insist  upon  the 
English  language  being  used  in  the  Assembly  and  courts  of 
law,  in  public  documents,  &c.  ;  we  may  alter  the  laws  to 
correspond  with  those  of  the  mother-country  ;  but  will  that 
make  the  pr-  vince  English  ?  We  may  even  insist  that  none 
hut  English-born  subjects,  or  Canadian-born  English  shall  be 
elected  to  the  House  of  Assembly,  or  hold  any  public  office  ;  but 
will  that  make  th  .  province  English?  Certainly  not.  There 
is  no  want  of  En^jlish-born  demagogues  as  well  as  French  in 
the  province.  The  elections  of  the  Lower  province  are  decided 
by  ihe  ('anadian  French,  who  are  in  the  majority,  and  they 
would  find  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  representatives  who  would 
continue  the  former  system  of  controlling  the  executive  and 
advocating  re  hellion.  Is  it,  then,  by  altogether  taking  away 
from  the  Canadian  French  the  elective  franchise  and  giving  it 
entirely  into  the  hands  of  the  English,  that  the  province  is  to 
be  made  English?  If  so,  although  1  admit  the  French  have 
proved  thciniselves  undeserving,  and  have  by  their  rebellion 
forfeited  their  birth-right,  you  then  place  them  in  the  situation  of 
an  injured,  oppressed,  and  sacrificed  people;  reducing  them  to 
a  state  of  slavery  which,  notwithstanding  their  offences,  would 
still  be  odious  to  the  present  age.  By  what  means,  therefore, 
does  his  lordship  intend  that  the  province  shall  become  F]nglish 
— by  immigration  ?  That  requires  time  ;  and  before  the  immi* 
gration  necess-uy  can  take  place  the  Canadas  may  be  again 
thrown  into  a  rebellion  by  the  French  machinations.  In  our 
future  legislation  for  the  Canadas,  we  must  always  bear  in  mind 
that  the  French  population  will  be  opposed  to  the  Government 
and  to  the  mother-country  ;  and  that  there  is  no  chance  of  a 
better  state  of  feeling  in  the  Lower  province  until  they  shall  br- 
eome  amalgamated  and  swallowed  up  by  British  immigration. 
Vntil  that  takes  place,  the  union  of  the  Canadas  will  only 


'Ti   L 


MARRY AT's  diary. 


255 


create  a  eonflict  between  the  two  races,  as  opposed  as  fire  and 
water,  and  nearly  e(|ual  in  numbers.  It  will  be  an  imnriense 
cauldron,  bubbling,  steaniintr,  and  boilinjr  over — an  ineessan; 
scene  of  strife  and  irritation — a  source  of  anxietj'  and  expense  to 
the  inolber-conntry,  and,  so  far  from  jjoino^  a-brad,  I  shnnld  not 
be  surprised  if,  iti  twenty  years  hence,  the  Enj^lisli  population 
would  b(!  found  to  bf^  smvdler  than  it  now  is.  Political  dissen- 
sions would  paialysc  enterprise,  frifrhien  away  capital,  and,  in 
all  probability,  involve  us  in  a  conflict  with  the  United  States. 
Until,  therefore,  I  understand  bow  the  Ijower  Province  is  to 
become  13ritish,  1  cannot  think  a  union  between  the  Canadas  to 
be  advisable. 

Wherher  his  lordship  is  aware  of  it  or  not,  I  cannot  say,  but 
there  appears  to  me  to  be  a  stronor  toeling  towards  democracy  in 
ail  liis  proposed  plans,  and  an  evident  leanincr  towards  the  in- 
stitutions of  the  United  States.  He  wish(>s  to  make  the 
Executive  Governmctit  responsible  to  tlui  people  ;  he  would 
make  one  Federal  Union  ot  all  our  provinces,  and  institute  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Appeal  which  ihey  have  in  the  United  States. 
In  short,  chanire  but  the  word  Governor  for  President,  and  we 
should  have  the  American  constitution,  and  a  "  free  and 
enlifrhtened  people;" — that  is,  tfie  French  Canadians,  who  can 
neillicr  rta<l  or  write,  governinir  themselves. 

So  far  from  a  Federal  union  between  all  our  transatlantic  pos- 
sessions bein^  advisable,  I  should  think,  from  their  cnntigruity 
with  the  Americans,  that  it  would  be  advisable  to  krep  them 
separate.  Respecting'  the  Canadas,  1  am  of  the  same  cpinion. 
1  consider  that  as  two  provinces,  they  are  too  vast  in  territory 
already.  Whether  it  is  a  woman  lookinjr  after  her  servants  and 
household  affairs,  or  a  captain  commandin|T  asliip,or  a  governor 
rulinjr  over  a  province,  larjrp  or  snmll,  as  may  be  the  scale  of 
operation,  one  of  the  most  important  points  in  jjood  legislation, 
is  the  e//e.  A  jrovernor  of  a  vast  province  cannot  possibly  be 
aware  of  the  wants  of  the  various  portions  of  the  province.  He 
is  obliged  to  take  the  reports  of  others,  and  consequently  very 
often  legislates  unadvisedly. 

That  the  two  provinces  cannot  remain  in  their  present  state  is 
acknowlt-dged  by  all.  The  question  therefore  is,  can  we  ration- 
ally expect  any  improvement  by  their  union  ?  Perhaps  it  may 
appear  |)resumptuous  in  me  (at  all  events,  it  will  in  the  eyes  of 
the  EdiuburL^li  Revitiv)  that  I  shojild  venture  to  diiler  from  Lord 
Durham,  who  is  a  statesman  born  and  bred — for  this  is  not  a 
party  question  in  wliich  a  diirerence  of  politics  may  bias — it  is  a 
question  as  to  the  well-governing  ol  a  most  important  ccdony, 
and  no  one  will  I'or  a  moment  doubt  but  that  his  lordship  is  as 
anxious  as  the  Duke  of  Wellington,  and  every  other  well-wisher 
to  his  country,  to  decide  upon  that  which  he  considers  honestly 
and  honorably  t'^  be  the  best.  It  is  really,  therefore,  with  great 
deference  that  I  submit  to  him,  whether  another  arrangement 
should  not  be  well  considered,  before  the  union  of  the  two  pro- 
vinces is  finally  decided  upon. 
•    His  lordship  has  very  truly  observed,  that  in  legislating,  wo 


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are  to  letrislate  for  Aitarity;  if  not,  we  must  be  prepared  fo." 
cli,in<je.  ActiniT  upon  this  sound  principle,  we  are  to  letfislate 
aonn  the  su|)positioii  that  the  whole  country  of  Upper  and  Lower 
Canada  /s  well  peopled.  VVr-  are  not  to  lejrislate  for  the  present 
popuUitiiMi,  but  fnr  tin?  future.  And  how  is  this  to  be  done  in 
the  present  condition  of  the  provinces?  Most  assuredly  by 
leijislatii)'^  for  territory — for  the  amount  of  square  acres  which 
will  eveiitu'.illy  be  tilled  up  by  emiiiration.  I  perf(^cl1y  agfree 
with  his  lordship  in  the  remark  that  "  if  the  Canadians  are  to 
be  deprivfnl  of  their  representative  (government,  it  would  be  bet- 
tor to  do  it  in  a  straioht  forward  way;"  but  I  submit  that  it 
would  f)H  done  \',\  a  siraitrht  forward  way  by  the  plan  [  am  about 
to  submit  to  him,  and  I  consider  it  more  advisable  than  that  ot 
convulsincr  the  two  provinces  by  brintrinir  tofjether  the  two  races 
so  inveterate  airainsl  each  other.  InsteKd  of  a  union  of  the  two 
provinces,  I  should  think  it  more  advisable  to  separate  the 
(.'anada.s  into  three — I'pper,  Lower,  and  Middle  (Canada,  the 
line  of  demarcation;  and  the  capitals  of  each  Province  appear 
already  to  be  inark'^d  out.  'J'he  Lower  province  would  have 
Quebec,  and  be  separated  from  the  Middle  Province  by  the  Ot- 
tawa river.  The  Middle  Province  would  have  Montreal,  and 
would  extend  to  a  line  drawn  from  Lake  Simcoe  to  Lake  Onta- 
rio, throwiiig  into  it  all  the  townsliips  on  the  .jQnif.rican  side  of  the 
St.  Lawrence^  w\\'\c\\  would  do  away  with  the  p^reat  objection  of 
the  Upper  province  being  <lependent  upon  the  Lower  for  the 
transport  of  goods  up  the  river,  and  the  necessity  cf  dividing  be- 
tween the  provinces  the  custom-house  revenues.  Under  any 
circumstances,  it  would  be  very  advantageous  to  have  a  port  of 
entry  and  custom-house,  in  or  nearer  to  the  Gulfof  St.  Lawrence, 
as  ships  would  then  be  able  to  make  an  extra  voyage  every 
year.  I  should  say  about  Gaspe  would  be  the  spot.  This  bay 
being  on  the  American  side  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence  would  be- 
come the  entry  port  for  the  Upper  and  Middle  provinces,  ren- 
dering them  wholly  independent  of  the  Lower.  The  Upper 
province  would  comprehend  all  the  rest  of  the  territory  west  ot 
the  line,  drawn  from  Lake  Superior,  and  have  Toronto  for  its 
capital,  'i'his  would  be  a  pretty  fair  division  of  territory,  and 
each  province  would  be  more  than  sufficient  for  the  eye  of  the 
most  active  governor. 

Let  each  province  have  its  separate  sui-govemor  and  House 
of  Assembly  ;  but  let  the  Upper  House,  or  Senate,  be  selected 
of  equal  numbers  from  each  province,  and  assemble  at  Quebec  to 
decide,  with  the  fruvernor-in -chief  of  t'le  pro^nnces^  upon  the 
passing  or  rejecting  of  the  bills  of  the  three  respective  Lower 
Houses.  This,  although  perfectly  fair,  would  at  once  give  in 
the  Senate  the  preponderance  to  the  English  of  the  Upper  and 
Middle  provinces.  It  would  still  leave  to  the  Lower  Canadians 
their  franchise ;  and  their  House  of  Assembly  would  be  a 
species  of  safety-valve  for  the  demagogues  to  give  vent  to  their 
opinions,  without  their  being  capable  of  injuring  the  interests  of 
the  provinces, until  ihey  gradually  amalgamated  with  the  British 
immigration.  I  merely  offer  this  plan  as  a  suggestion  to  his 
\oi;d8hip,  and,  of  course,  enter  ipto  no  further. dQtaU., 


MABRYAT'S    DIARV, 


257 


There  are,  however,  one  or  two  otlier  points  which  appear  to 
me  to  be  worthy  of  consiilpration.  It'  the  Oanadas  are  of  that 
importance  wliich  I  th'nk  thetn,  there  are  no  nieans  which  wo 
should  not  nse  to  attach  them  to  the  mother-country — to  make 
them  partial  to  monaiohi*!  instiliuions — and  to  idtntify  iheni 
with  the  Uritish  empire.  We  should  make  sacrifices  for  them 
that  we  would  not  to  other  colonies;  ami  therefore  it  is  that  I 
venture  my  opinion,  that  it  would  not  only  be  politic,  but  it 
would  be  just  to  such  an  extensive  territory — and  eventually 
such  an  extensive  population — to  permit  each  of  the  three  pro- 
vinces, (provided  they  are  ever  divided  into  three,)  to  select  one 
of  their  senate  to  represent  them  in  the  British  House  of  Com- 
mons. I  consider  it  but  an  act  of  justice  as  well  as  of  policy. 
This  step  would,  as  I  said  before,  iilcnilfi)  ihnse  valuable  pro- 
vinces with  ourselves.  They  then  would  feel  that  they  were 
not  ruled,  but  that  they  were  part  and  portion,  and  assisted  in 
the  government  of  the  British  empire,  and,  to  draw  the  line  as 
strictly  as  possible  between  them  and  their  democratic  neigh- 
bours, to  attach  them  still  closer  to  monanrhical  institutions,  ir, 
should  be  proposed  t-"  the  Sovereijrn  of  these  realms  that  aii 
Older  of  kniorhthood  and  an  Order  of  merit  expressly  Canadian 
should  be  instituted.  These  last  may  be  considered  by  many 
lobe,  and  perhaps  in  themselves  are,  trilles;  but  they  are  no 
trifles,  when  you  consider  that  they  must  militate  agamst  those 
democratic  feelinors  of  equality  which  have  been  so  industriously 
and  so  injuriously  circulated  in  the  provinces  by  our  trans- 
atlantic descendants.  I  cannot  better  conclude  these  observa- 
tions than  by  quotincr  the  opinion  of  so  intelliirent  a  nobiemau 
as  Lord  Durham,  who  asserts  most  positively  that  *'K(iir|and, 
if  she  loses  her  North  American  colonies,  must  sink  into  a 
second-rate  power." 


i  i 


'i 


I 


CHAPTKR  Vir. 


INDIANS. 


There  was  no  subject  of  higher  interest  to  me  during  my 
travels  in  North  America,  than  the  past  and  present  condition  of 
the  Indian  tribes.  Were  I  to  enter  into  the  history  of  the  past, 
1  could  easily  fill  three  or  four  volumes  of  matter,  which  1  think 
would  be  found  very  well  worth  perusing.  It  is  to  i)e  lamented 
that  there  has  been  no  correct  history  of  the  Indian  tribes  yet 
published.  There  are  many  authors  in  America  well  calculated 
to  undertake  the  task»  and  the  only  reason  which  I  can  give  for 
it  not  having  been  already  done,  is  that  probably  the  American 
<iovernmeiit  are  not  very  willing  to  open  the  archives  of  the 
Indian  department  even  to  their  own  countrymen  ;  and,  at  the 
same  lime,  an  American  author,  who  would  adhere  to  the  truth, 
would  not  become  very  popular  from  exposing  the  system  of 
rapine  and  injustic  '  which  was  commenced  by  the  English  wha 

22* 


f6& 


MARBYAT^'S    UlAm, 


W  I. 


Ji 


I  !. 


If:' 

hi-    » 


I! 

■  j,  ,i 


h 


r  ■' 


Lf  : 


first  laiKlpd,  and  has  been  continued  up  to  the  present  day  by 
the  Federal  Government  of  the  United  States.  Nevertheless, 
it  is  to  he  lamented,'  now  that  the  race  is  so  fast  disappearing-, 
that  a  oood  historical  account  of  them  is  not  pubfished.  There 
is  no  want  of  material  for  the  purpose,  even  if  the  (Jovernment 
refuse  their  aid  ;  but  at  present,  it  is  either  scattered  in  various 
works,  or  wh^n  attempted  to  be  collected  together,  the  author 
has  not  he(Mi  equal  to  the  task.  There  is  a  quesiion  which  has 
been  raised  by  almost  every  traveller  in  America,  which  is — 
from  whom  are  the  American  Indians  descended  1  and  I  think 
from  thi'  many  works  I  have  consulted,  that  the  g^eneral  opinion 
is,  that  tliey  are  descended  from  the  lost  tribes  of  Israel.  We 
have  n(-Vv^r  discovered  any  other  nation  of  savages,  if  we  may 
use  such  a  term  to  the  American  Indians,  who  have  not  been 
idolaters;  the  American  Indian  is  the  only  one  who  worships 
the  one  living  God.  In  a  discourse,  which  was  delivered  by 
Mr.  Noah,  one  of  the  most  intelligent  of  the  Jewish  nation  that 
I  ever  had  the  pleasure  of  being  acquainted  with,  there  is  much 
depp  research  and  a  collection  of  the  various  opinions  upon  this 
subject. 

Many  tribes  were  totally  annihilated  or  their  remnants  incor- 
porated into  others,  living  faraway  from  their  original  territories* 
the  Tiiscaroras,  for  instance,  were  driven  out  of  Carolina  and 
admitted  into  the  Mohawk  confederacy,  which  originally  came 
down  from  the  upper  shores  of  the  river  St.  Lawrence.  The 
Winnei)agnps,  also,  were  driven  from  the  south  and  settled  on 
the  river  Wisconsin.  The  Sacs  and  Foxes  fought  their  way 
from  «he  river  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Fox  river,  in  Wisconsin,  and 
were  driven  from  ihence,  by  the  Menomonies  and  Chippewas, 
to  the  1  ^riitory  of  Hock  river,  on  the  river  Mississippi,  where 
they  r>  inained,  until  deprived  of  their  territory  by  the  Federal 
(lovernment,  and  sent  away  to  the  west  of  the  river. 

Notwithstanding  tlie  vicissitudes  which  continually  occurred, 
the  tribes  of  North  American  Indians  may  be  classed  as  fol- 
lows : — 

The  Alironquin  stock  of  the  North — under  which  are  com- 
prehended the  ('hippt-was,  Otiawas,  Menomonies,  Murines,  &p. 

The  Southern  tribes,  who  are  also  descended  from  one  stock, 
and  comj)rise  Creeks,  Cherokees,  Chocktaws,  Catawbaws, 
Chickas  iws,&(-. 

The  Morse  Indians  of  the  West,  as  the  Pawnees,  Osages, 
Sioux,  ]\aiisas,  (-umanches,  &e. 

The  Indians  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  as  Crows,  Snakes,  and 
Blaekfeet. 

All  the  above  races  were  composed  of  numerous  tribes,  who 
acknowledged  themselves  as  blood  relations,  but  did  not  enter 
into  any  confederacy  for  mutual  support;  on  the  contrary,  often 
warring  with  each  other.  There  were  other  powerful  tribes, 
which  resid«>d  between  the  lakes  and  the  Ohio,  bordering  on  the 
huntiiKjr  grounds  of  Kentucky  and  Tinpin,  which  portion  ap- 
peared to  be  set  aside,  by  general  consent,  not  only  for  hunting 
but  for  war.  There  were  the  Delawares,  or  Lenni-Lenape,  the 
Shawnees,  Wyandots,  Illinois,  Peorais,  and  some  olheFB, 


in 


MARRVAT^S   DIARY. 


S59 


The  confederate  tribes,  and  with  which  the  early  settlers  had 
to  contend,  were  as  follows: — 

The  Powhatan  confederacy,  comprising  the  Monacans,  Mona- 
hoacs,  and  Powhatans,  occupyintf  the  present  stale  of  Virginia 
from  thp  sea-coast  to  the  Alleghany  mountains. 

'I'he  Npw  Enirland  confederacy,  who  rf^sided  in  the  present 
States  of  New  Knijland,  composed  of  the  Peqiiots,  Narrangan- 
sets,  Pawiiickets,  Pokanokets,  and  Massachusetts  tribes. 

And  lastly,  the  confederacy  of  the  five  nations,  or  Mohawks, 
called  Mingos  by  the  other  Indians,  and  Iro(juois  by  the  French. 
This  confederacy  was  composed  of  the  Mohawks,  Oneidas, 
Cajriiyas,  Onandiijas,  and  Senecas.  The  Tuscaroras,  were 
afterwards  admitted  as  a  sixth, 

1  will  make  a  few  brief  observations  upon  the  various  tribes, 
in  the  order  I  have  set  them  down. 

The  Algonquin  stock  has  suffered  less  than  any  other,  simply 
because  they  have  been  located  so  far  north,  and  their  lands 
have  not  been  required.  The  Chippewas  are  at  present  the 
most  numerous  tribe  of  Indians.  'J'he  most  celebrated  chief  ot 
this  stock  was  Pontiac,  an  Otta  va  ;  after  the  (^anadiis  were 
given  up  to  the  English,  he  proved  a  most  formidable  nemy; 
he  attempted  and,  to  a  certain  degree,  succeeded  in  uniting  the 
tribes  against  us,  and  had  not  his  plot  been  discovered,  would, 
in  all  probability,  have  wrested  from  us  Detroit  and  every  other 
post  in  our  possession  on  the  lakes.  Uut  F.intiac  couKI  not 
keep  up  astanding  army,  which  was  so  contrary  to  the  habits  of 
the  Indians  ;  one  by  one  the  tribes  deserted  him,  and  sued  for 
peace.  Pontiac  would  not  listen  to  any  negociaiions,  he  retired 
to  Illinois,  and  was  murdered  by  a  Peoria  Indian.  The  (3tto- 
was,  (Chippewas,  and  Poltawatamies,  who  fouglit  under  him, 
avenged  his  death  by  the  extirmination  of  nearly  the  whole  tribe 
of  Peorias.     Pontiac  was  one  of  the  greatest  Indians  in  his4,ory. 

Of  the  Southern  tribes  there  are  not  any  records  sufliciv^ntly 
prominent  for  so  short  a  notice. 

The  Horse  Indians  of  the  West  and  those  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  are  scarcely  known. 

The  .Miuland  tribes  produced  some  jrreat  men.  The  Dela- 
wares  were  at  one;  period  the  most  celebratt^d.  'J'heShawanees, 
or  JShawnees,  do  not  appear  to  have  been  opposed  to  the 
Whites,  until  IJoone  and  his  adventurers  crossed  the  Alleofha- 
nies,  and  took  posse  ssion  of  the  valley  of  Kentucky,  i^iit  the 
iShawnees  have  to  boast  of  Tecumseh,  a  chitf,  ,is  gr(^at  in 
renown  as  Pontiac;  he  also  attempted  to  coiif(Mlerate  all  the 
tribes  and  drive  away  the  Whiles;  his  history  is  hinhly 
interesting.  He  fell  in  battle  fighting  for  thy  English,  in  the 
war  of  1814. 

The  ciwfKkrate  tribes  on  the  eastern  coast,  were  those  with 
which  the  first  settlers  were  embroiled.  The  history  of  Virgi- 
nia is  remarkable  for  one  of  the  most  singular  romances  in  real 
life  which  ever  occurred  :  I  allude  to  Pocahontas,  the  daughter 
of  the  king  of  the  Powhatans,  who  saved  the  life  of  the  enter- 
prising ('apiain  Smith,  at  the  imniincnt  risk  of  her  own.    The 


(I 


U  ' 


^. 


2']0 


marrvat's  diarv. 


'• 


romancpwas  not,  however,  wound  up  by  their  marriaore,  Captain 
Smith  not  ht'iii<r  u  marry i mj  mvin ;  hut  she  afterwards  married 
a  younir  Kiitr|i>i|im;ui.  of  the  name  ot  liandolph,  was  l)romjhi  to 
Kngiand.  ri"ceiv«H^  at  court,  and  paid  much  attention  to  by  Queen 
Anne.  ISomo  of  the  first  familiefj  in  Virginia  proudly  and  justly 
claim  their  descent  Irom  this  noble  jjirl. 

The  New  Kuiiiaiid  (confederacy  was  opposed  to  the  piljrrim 
fathers  and  their  descendants.  The  chief  tribe,  the  VVampa- 
noagrs,  1m ve  to  boast  of  the  third  jrreat  chi<'f  amonij  the  Indian 
tribes — Ivinjj  Philip.  His  history  is  well  known;  I  have 
alieady  referred  to  it  in  my  Diary. 

If  the  rtvader  will  consult  the  histories  of  Philip,  Pontine  and 
Tecumseh,  who  niv»y  fairly  be  said  lo  have  been  "  (jreat  men," 
he  will  perceive  that  in  each  cai^e,  these  chiefs  were  the  life  and 
soul  of  enterprise  and  action,  and  that  it  was  by  their  talents, 
bravery,  and  activity,  that  the  tribts  were  confederated  and  led 
againel  tlie  Whites.  As  soon  as  they  were  jjone,  there  were 
none  who  could  succeed  them  or  fill  up  tneir  places,  and  the 
confederacies  were  immediatt-ly  broken  up.  l^ut  this  was  not 
the  case  with  the  celebrated  five  nations,  or  Mohawks,  who, 
like  the  Romans  of  former  days,  spread  their  conquests  tmtil 
their  name  was  a  terror  wherever  it  was  mentioned.  Philip, 
Pontiac  and  Tecumst  h  were  fjreat  men,  but  the  Mohawks' 
confederacy  was  a  nation  of  ffreat  ummi.  When  the  French 
settled  in  Canada  in  1003,  the  Mohawks,  or  Iroquois  as  they 
called  them,  were  livinsjr  near  to  where  Montreal  now  stands. 
They  were  at  war  with  the  Adirondack^,  a  very  numerous  and 
powerful  nation,  and  were  beaten  down  towards  the  Lakes;  but 
they  recovered  themselves,  and  their  opponents  were  in  their  turn 
l)eaten  down  to  Quebec.  The  war  between  the  Adirondacks 
and  the  Iroquois  is  full  of  the  most  interestinjj  details  ofcourajje 
on  both  sides.  The  Iroquois  havinjr  subdued,  and  indeed, 
exterminated  the  AdiromiacUs,  turned  their  arms  against  several 
other  tribes,  whom  they  vaiKjuished  ;  they  then  attacked  the 
<  Htawas  and  Hiirons,  and  drove  them  to  the  other  side  of  the 
Mississippi.  The  Illinois  were  next  sididutd,  then  the  Miamies 
and  Shavvnees  were  driven  back  for  the  time.  Finally,  they 
conquered  the  Viifrinian  tribes,  and  warred  airainst  the  (.'hero- 
kees,  Catawbas,  and  other  nations  of  the  South.  Although  it; 
was  impossible  for  them  to  hold  the  vast  extent  of  country  which 
they  had  overrun,  still  it  is  certain  that  their  very  name  was  so 
terrible  that,  from  New  Kiifiland  to  the  Mississippi,  every  towu 
and  villajje  would  be  deserted  at  their  approach. 

The  chief  portion  of  the  Mohawks,  under  their  celebrated 
leader  Brandt,  served  on  the  Drilish  side  in  the  war  of  Indepen- 
•iice,  and  at  ttie  close  of  the  war,  they  settled  in  lands  given 
ihein  by  the  bhiijlish,  on  the  banks  of  (irand  river  in  Canada  in 
the  year  178.'^.  At  the  timt  ihey  took  possession  of  their  land, 
their  numbers  amounted  to  nearly  8,000;  t)ut,  as  is  every  where 
the  case  where  tne  Indians  are  settled  and  confined  on  reserved 
lands,  they  ha\e  now  decreased  to  about  2,500.  A  portion  of 
the  tribe  of  Senecas,  one  of  the  Mohawk  confederacy,  joined  the 


MARRY  AT  is    DIARY. 


961 


Americans;  tlin  remnants  of  them  are  still  located  a  few  miles 
from  lii)flalo,  in  tlie  Slule  of  New-York.  'ri\eir  chief,  lieit 
Jacket,  die'.!  lately  ;  he  was  a  yreut  warrior  and  still  greater 
orator. 

'i'lie  most  firmidahle  opponents  to  the  five  nations  were  tlie 
Delawares,  or  liCMini  I/enape,  who  lived  in  Pennsylvania.  The 
Delawarcs  joined  the  IJritish  in  the  war  of  Independence. 

In  the  siicceedinij  chapter,  I  shall  jiive  the  reader  a  censns  ot' 
the  American  Indian  Irihes  which  still  remain.  It  will  he  per- 
ceived that  they  are  chicHy  comprised  of  trihes  which  inhahiteil 
the  Far- West,  and  were  nntil  lately,  almost  unknown.  Of  the 
New  lOnixlatii!  and  Vir<rinian  confederacies,  once  so  powerful, 
not  a  ve«li<re  rci.iains  ;  of  the  Delavvares,  8'2()  still  exist  VVeist 
of  the  Mississippi;  of  the  Shawanees,  or  iShawnees,  once  so 
terrible  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  \'21'2.  In  fact,  all  those 
Indians  whose  territory  bounded  the  coast  first  taken  possession 
of  by  the  White  men,  have  been  annihilated.  1  liave  often  heard 
it  aryeed  when  1  was  in  the  United  JStates,  that  the  Indians  could 
not  Ix'  considered  as  having  any  claim  to  the  land,  as  they  did 
'  3t  selth;  or  cultivate  it ;  and  it  is  a  general  opinion  that  they 
lived  ahnost  entirely  by  the  proceeds  of  the  chase. ;  but  this  is 
not  a  fact;  indeed  it  is  disproved  by  the  early  settlers  themselv- 
es, who  acknowledge  that  if  they  had  not  been  supplied  with 
corn  by  the  Indians  they  must  have  starved.  That  the  Indians 
did  not  grow  more  than  was  sufficient  fortheir  own  consumption 
is  very  probable,  but  that  they  did  cultivate  the  land  is  most  cer- 
tain ;  indeed,  when  the  country  and  soil  were  favourable,  they  ap- 
pear to  have  cultivated  to  a  great  extent.  When  General  Wayne 
destroyed  the  settlements  of  the  Miamies  and  Wyandots,  on  the 
Miami  river,  in  IT'Jl,  he  says  in  his  despatch,  "  never  have  1 
beheld  such  immense  fields  of  corn  in  any  part  of  America  as 
possessed  hy  these  Indians." 

The  chase  was  considered  by  the  Indians  as  a  preparatory 
school  for  warriors,  and  was  followed  accordingly;  indeed,  a 
hunting  party  and  a  war  party  were  often  one  and  the  same 
thing,  as  the  hunting  grounds  were  common,  and  when  tribes 
who  were  at  variance  fell  in  with  each  other,  a  conflict  invaria- 
bly ensued.  My  limits  will  not  permit  me  to  enter  into  the 
subject  more  fully  ;  my  object  has  been,  in  as  few  pages  as  pos- 
sible, to  assist  iji  giving  the  reader  some  idea  of  the  loca- 
tion of  the  Aborigines  of  America.  If  he  would  know  more 
of  this  interesting  people,  there  are  many  very  excellent  works 
concerning  them  written  by  Americans,  which,  were  they  col- 
lected together  would  form  a  most  valuable  and  important  library. 


i 


CHAPTER  Vm. 


INDIANS. 


I  will  now  enter  into  a  short  examination  of  the  present  posi- 
tion of  the  remaining  Indian  tribes.     The  plan  of  the  American 


U','2 


marrvat's  niARV. 


I  ' 


Ml      V 

■y't   ' , 


h  *■,: 


ii'li 
1^ 


(iovrrnifient  has  been  to  coii.])fil  iliom  to  st^ll  their  lands  ami 
romove  wpsI  nt'llin  Mississippi,  to  lands  of  wliicli  1  doubt  that 
tht^  Auicrirans  havn  any  riijht  to  claim  an  atTc.  That  the  re- 
inoval  of  Ihein  is  expt'ditMit  I  jj^taiit,  and  that  is  all  ih-it  can  hv 
said  on  the  snhjccU.  That  tht?  Indians  were  fated  lo  melt  away 
before  the  white  men  like  snow  before  the  snn,  is  true;  still,  it 
is  jniinfiil  lo  consider  what  has  taken  ])lace  from  the  period  of 
onr  first  lai)din<i;,  when  we  were  received  hospitaldy — saved 
from  starvation  by  the  crcnerons  sacriliee  of  their  small  stores  of 
iLjrain — j»erinitled  lo  settle  upon  a  small  tract  of  land  humbly 
solicited — and  that  from  the  time  that  the  \\hite  men  once  jjained 
a  fooliuLj  on  their  shores,  the  Indians  have  bijcii  hunted  like 
wild  b'asts  from  hill  to  hill,  from  riv«'r  to  river,  and  from  coun- 
try to  Country,  until  nearly  the  whole  of  the  vast  continent  may 
be  said  to  have  b«^en  wrested  from  them.  This  system  is  still 
continued,  one  tribe  beintr  force, 1  back  westward  upon  another, 
till  they  come  into  conllict  with,  and  destroy,  eaeli  other;  but 
the  buH'ilo  and  otiier  animals,  n[)on  which  they  depend  for  food, 
recede  with  them  and  crradually  disappear.  As  (M.ristians,  we 
must  latrioiit  that  the  track  for  the  advice  of  (/hristianity  is 
cleared  away  by  a  series  of  rapine,  cruelty,  and  injustice,  at 
which  every  one  must  shudder. 

The  followinjT  is  the  Jieport  to  the  American  Government,  of 
the  various  tribes  of  Indians  remaining  in  the  year  1837.  It  is 
<livided  into  three  parts. 

Statement  showing  the  number  of  Indians  now  cast  of  the  Mis- 
sissipjii;  of  those  that  have  emiiifrated  from  the  east  to  the 
west  of  that  river;  and  those  within  striking  distance  of  the 
Western  frontier. 

1. — IVnme  and  number  of  the  frilns  now  cast  of  the  Mississij)j}i. 
1. — Under  treaty  stipulations  to  remove  west  of  the  Mississippi, 
VVinneb.ijroes         .  .  _  1,500 

Ottawas  of  Ohio  -  -  100 

Pottawatamies  of  Indiana  -  2,950 

Chippevvas,  Ottawas,  and  Pottawatamies  1,500 


Cherokees             -             -             _ 

14,000 

Creeks      .             -             -             - 

1,000 

Chickasaws          -            -            - 

1,000 

Semi  Holes              .             .             - 

5,000 

Appalachicolas      -             -             - 

400 

Ottawas  and  Chippewas  in  the  Penin- 

sula of  Michigan 

G,500 

3G,I)50 

2. — Not  under  treaty  stipulations 

to  remove. 

Now  York  Indians 

4,17(5 

Wyandots               -             .             _ 

575 

iMiamies     -            -            .            _ 

1,100 

Menomonies           ... 

4.000 

Ottawas  and  Chippewas  of  the  lakes 

2,504 

1"    ll*! 

49,365 


MAHHVAT  S    niARY. 


^611 


2,—yumbcr  of  //u/jVi/w  who  have  tmitrrntcl  from  t/tc  msl  to  tlir 

went  of  the  Misnix^lppi, 


Chickasaw's  ... 

(/hi|)|)rwas,  Ottawas,  aiul   I'oUawatamics 
Choctaws    .... 
Quapaws     -  -  -  - 

Creeks         .... 
Seminoles    - 
Appalachicolas 

(Mierokoes  -  .  -  - 

Kickapods  ... 

Delaw  iros  -  -  . 

Shawnees    -  -  .  - 

Ottawas       .... 
Weas  -  -  -  . 

Piankpshaws  ... 

Peorias  and  Kaskaskias 
Pottawatainics  oi"  Indiana   - 
Senecas       -  -  -  _ 

Senecas  and  Shawners 

Total 


51!) 

2,lf)| 

15,0()(» 

47C. 

20,i;{7 

107 

2()5 

7,911 

588 

H2G 

1,272 

;J71 

223 

1 1\2 

132 

53 

251 

211 

51,327 


3. — dumber  of  the   Li(ftij:enous  Tribes   within  striking  (liiiunc/: 

(f  the  IVi.stern  frontier. 


Sionx     - 

lowas 

Sacs 

Foxes 

Sacs  of  tiie  Missouri 

Osaaes    - 

Kansas  - 

Omahas 

Ottoes  and  Missourias 

Pawnees 

Camanches 

Kioways 

Mandans 

Quapaws 

Minatarees 

Pagans 

Assinaboins 

Appaches 

Crees     - 

Arrepahas 

Gros-Ventres 

Kntaws 

Crows    - 


21,600 

1,500 

4,80() 

1,600 

500 

5,120 

1,606 

1,600 

1,000 

12.500 

19,200 

1,800 

3,200 

450 

2,00() 

30,000 

15,000 

20,280 

3,000 

3,000 

16,800 

19,200 

7,200 


kjHpiVj 

p 

i 

1    '■ 

•if 


t 

f|i  ; 

:  a 
'i'   ■ 


I 


11^  ■ 


kf  > 


2€4 


•..' 


MARKVAT  8    UIARY. 


Caddopg 
I*(>noa«» 
Arirkarecs 
(?heypnue3 
Ul  VIC  k  feet 


Total 


RECAPITULATION. 


2,000 

J>06 

2,760 

3,200 

:u),ooo 

23 1, HOG 


10,305 


Mumhor  of  Indians  now  east  of  the  Mississippi 
Number  of  Indians  who  have  tMiii|rrated  from  cast  to 

west  side  .  .  _  -  -  51,327 

Number  of  indigenous  tribes        -  -  -  23l,H0G 


Aggreg^ate 
Esti muled  number  of  warriors. 


332,4l>8 


332,11)8 


Whole  n\imber  of  Indians  .  -  - 

Assumitijr  tliat  every  fifth  one  may  be  considered  a 
warrior  (and  this  is  believed  to  be  a  reasonable 
supposition),  the  number  of  warriors  will  be  60,491) 

War  Department, 

Office  of  Indian  AfTairs,  November  22,  1837. 
C.  A.  HAIlUIlS,  Commissioner. 

This  force  of  the  Indians,  if  ever  they  combined,  would  be 
very  formidable,  and  they  mijrht  certainly  sweep  away  the 
whole  white  population  west  of  ihe  Mississippi.  That  there 
will  hereafter  be  an  attempt  of  th..t  kind  is  very  probable,  as 
hunarer  must  eventually  drive  them  to  it;  but  any  success  iii 
their  attempt  must  depend  very  mu(;h  tipon  their  leaders,  and 
the  possibility  of  combination.  It  certainly  appears  to  have 
been  an  oversijfht  on  the  part  of  the  Anuuican  Ciovernment,  to 
loncentratc  the  whole  of  the  Indinns  upon  their  frontiers  in  the 
way  which  they  have  done;  still,  they  could  not  well  have  a(;t- 
ed  otherwise.  The  removal  of  the  Cherokees  has  been  the 
most  hazardous  part  of  their  proceed  I  nj;,  as  they  are  very 
superior  people;  and  should  the  other  tribes  put  themselves 
imder  their  directions,  they  would  be  formidable  enemies.  There 
is  another  circumstance  wliich  may  render  the  Indians  more  seri- 
ous enemies,  which  is,  that  ihey,  havinij  been  located  on  the 
prairie  country,  have  become  Horse  Indians,  instead  of  what  is 
termed  Wood  Indians,  and  they  have  a  vast  country  behind 
them  to  retreat  to  in  case  of  necessity.  I  do  not  think,  how- 
ever, that  there  is,  at  present,  mutrh  fear  to  be  felt  relative 
to  the  Indians,  althouirli  the  (^herokees,  the  Sioux,  and  some 
other  powerful  tribes  openly  declare  their  hostile  intentions 
a.8  soon  as  an  opportunity  otfers  for  carrying  them  into  execu' 


marryat'a  diauv. 


365 


■J 

77" 

n 
'■n 


tion.  That  opportunity  will  not  olVrr,  unNss  Amrrica  is  plnnjr»d 
into  war  with  France  or  this  country,  and  then  I  am  pretty  con- 
fident that  there  will  he  a  jreneral  risinjr  of  the  Indians;  when, 
whether  they  act  in  concert  or  not,  tliey  will  uive  the  Americans 
more' occupation  than  will  he  ajrretv.ihjc.  'I'lie  Anjerican  govern- 
ment have  not  heen  insensihie  to  the  danjrer  to  which  they  are  ex- 
posed from  this  quarter,  and,  in  IH.'IT,  ilie  repr)rts  of  military  men 
were  sent  into  Congress  as  to  the  best  plan  of  proteclintr  th»  ir 
frontier.  Whether  those  reports  are  inti'nded  to  he  acted  upc  n 
1  know  not;  hut  if  so,  the  i)resent  re^rular  army  of  the  I'nited 
►States  will  not  he  sutTicient  for  the  ])uri)ose,  the  lowest  estima- 
tion for  the  ^.urisons  of  the  proposed  forts  heiutr  7,(K)()  rank  and 
file,  while  at  present  their  rank  and  file  on  the  army-list  only 
amounts  to  r>,()(H). 

The  American  forts  o|)pos(Hl  to  the  Indians  are,  at  present, 
Fort  Gratiot,  River  5St.  Clare.  *^  ^ 

Mackinaw  Island  Fort. 
Fort  Brady,  St.  Marie,  Lake  Superior. 
Fort  Howard,  (Jreen  liay. 
Fort  Winnehago,  Wisconsin. 
Fort  Crawford.     Prairie  des  Chiens. 
Fort  Snellinjr,  St.  Peters. 
Fort  Leavenworth,  Missouri. 
Fort  Madison,  Des  Moines  Uiver. 
Jelferson  Barracks,  Missouri. 

Advanctd  Forts, 

Fort  Towson,  Red  River. 

Fort  Gibson,  Arkansas  and  Grand  Junction  River. 

Fort  Adams,  Baton  Rou<re. 

There  are  one  or  two  outposts  also  on  the  Arkansas  River. 
If  all  these  forts  were  properly  g-arrisoned,  they  would  take  (ivery 
disposable  musket  in  the  regular  army  of  the  United  States ; 
whilst  at  present  they  have,  in  consecpience  of  the  protracted 
Florida  war,  scarcely  sutTicient  men  to  do  the  duty. 

In  the  report  of  the  acting  quarter-master  general,  the  follow- 
ing garrisons  are  proposed  for  the  western  frontier : — 

-   -  ."JOO  men. 
300 

-  '100 
-   1,200 

-  1,500 
800 

-  800 
200 

-1,500 


Fort  Snelling 

Fort  Crawford 

[Tpper  forks  of  the  Des  Moines 

Fort  Leavenworth      -        -        -        - 

Fort  Gibson  -        -        -        -        - 

Fort  Towson 

The  eight  posts  of  refuge  proposed 
The  protection  of  the  four  depots 
JetTerson  barracks,  as  a  corps  of  reserve 

Total    - 


f 


7,000 


23 


266 


MARRyAT"*S   DIARY. 


':?■  ;; 


To  which  must  be  added,  for  the  gnrnsons  of  the  five  Lakes 
forts,  1,500  at  least,  making  the  force  necessary  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  boundaries,  to  amount  to  8,500  men.  Colonel  Gra- 
tiot, in  his  report,  computes  the  force  necessary  at  12,910  men 

The  letter  of  Mr.  Poinsett  to  Congress  will  Ihrow  much  light 
upon  this  subject,  and  I  shall  therefore  insert  it. 

"  Department  of  War, 
•'  December  .30,  1837. 

"  Sir : — In  aarwer  to  the  resolution  of  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives, in  relation  to  the  protection  of  the  western  frontiers  of 
the  United  States,  I  have  the  honour  to  transmit  the  accompa- 
nying reports  of  the  chief  engineer  and  the  acting  quarter-master 
general,  together  with  a  report  of  the  commissioner  of  Indian 
affairs.  That  expected  from  General  Gaines  will  be  sent  as  soon 
as  it  is  received. 

"  In  presenting  these  documents,  which  are  ably  drawn  up, 
and  contain  full  and  satisfactory  information  on  all  the  topics 
embraced  by  the  resolution,  I  might  nave  considered  my  duty 
fully  discharged,  had  not  other  plans  been  previously  recom- 
mended, which  I  regard  as  entirely  inefficient,  but  which  have 
received,  in  some  measure,  the  sanction  of  Congress.  A  survey 
has  been  directed  to  determine  the  line  of  a  road,  which,  it  is 
contemplated,  shall  extend  from  some  point  of  the  Upper  Mis- 
sissippi to  Red  River,  passing  west  of  Missouri  and  Arkansas ; 
and  it  is  proposed  to  place  a  cordon  of  temporary  posts  of  ordi- 
nary construction  along  it,  as  a  sufficient  measure  for  the  defence 
of  that  part  of  the  country.  In  pursuance  of  the  orders  of  Con- 
gress, officers  I  ave  been  appointed  to  perform  that  duty,  and, 
upon  their  report  being  received,  measures  will  be  taken  to  carry 
into  effect  the  intentions  of  Congress,  unless,  upon  a  deliberate 
review  of  the  whole  matter,  some  more  eligible  plan  of  defence 
shall  be  adopted.  My  own  opinion  has  been,  from  the  time  1 
first  considered  the  subject,  that  such  a  chain  of  posts,  strung 
along  the  best  road  that  can  be  constructed,  furnished  with  all 
the  means  to  operate,  and  with  competent  garrisons  to  occupy 
them,  is  not  calculaU^d  to  afford  that  protection  which  the  border 
^States  have  a  right  to  expect  from  the  Government,  nor  to  redeem 
its  pledge  to  protect  the  emigrant  tribes  from  the  savage  and 
warlika  people  that  surround  them.  The  only  possible  use  of 
such  a  road  would  be  to  facilitate  occasional  communications 
between  the  posts,  in  time  of  peace.  Supplies  would  not  be 
transported  along  it,  for  they  must  be  brou^^ht  from  the  interior. 
Succours  could  not  reach  the  posts  by  that  direction,  for  they 
would  be  furnished  by  the  militia  within  the  line ;  and  any 
attempt  to  concentrate  the  forces  composing  the  garrisons  in  the 
event  of  an  outbreak,  would  probably  be  attended  with  disas- 
trous consequences ;  for  the  troops,  whose  route  must  be  well 
known,  would  be  exposed  to  be  attacked  and  destroyed  in  detail. 
The  enemy,  having  nothing  to  dread  on  their  flanks  or  rear. 


MARRY  AT  8    DIAR7. 


267 


i  Lakes 
protec- 
lel  Gra- 
[0  men 

ch  light 

ar, 

1837. 
present- 
tiers  of 
jcompa- 
r-masler 
'  Indian 
as  soon 

iwn  up, 
e  topics 
my  duty 
'  recom- 
ch  have 
^  survey 
ch,  it  is 
per  Mis- 
rkansas ; 
of  ordi- 
defencG 
of  Con- 
ity,  and, 
to  carry 
eliberate 
defence 
le  time  1 
s,  strunof 
with  ail 
occupy 
le  border 

0  redeem 
vajre  and 
3  use  of 
nications 

1  not  be 
interior, 
for  they 
and  any 
)ns  in  the 
th  disas- 
t  be  well 
in  detail. 

or  roar, 


might  approach  this  road  without  risk,  and  attack  the  detach-^ 
ments  on  their  line  of  march,  before  they  could  concentrate  their 
forces  so  as  to  offer  an  effectual  resistance. 

"  After  mature  reflection,  I  am  of  opinion  that  military  posts 
ought  to  be  established  and  kept  up  within  the  Indian  territory, 
in  such  positions  as  to  maintain  peace  among  the  Indians,  and 
protect  the  emigrant  and  feebler  tribes  against  the  stronger  and 
more  warlike  nations  that  surround  them ;  which  the  United 
States  are  bound  to  do  by  treaty  stipulations.  To  withdraw 
those  which  now  exist  there,  would  be  to  violate  our  faith,  as 
there  is  reason  to  apprehend  that  it  would  be  the  signal  of  war. 
Persons  well  acquainted  with  timt  country  assure  us  that  war 
would  break  out  among  the  Indians  'just  so  soon  as  the  troops 
are  removed  from  those  posts ;'  and  all  accounts  from  that  quarter 
confirm  that  impression. 

"  Independently  of  the  military  protection  which  the  existence 
of  these  posts  in  the  interior  of  the  Indian  country  afford  to  the 
emigrating  tribes,  and  the  good  they  are  calculated  to  effect  by 
the  beneficial  influence  the  officers  are  enabled  lo  exert  over  the 
surrounding  Indians,  they  more  effectually  cover  and  protect  the 
frontier  than  ten  times  the  number  of  fortresses,  strung  along  in 
one  line,  could  do. 

"  With  the  very  limited  knowledge  of  that  country  as  yet  in 
possession  of  this  department,  it  appears  to  me  that  six  or  seven 
permanent  exterior  posts  would  be  sufficient  to  preserve  the 
peace  of  that  frontier.    It  will  be  necessary,  at  the  same  time, 
to  establish,  at  convenient  poi;  ;.;  an  interior  line  of  posts,  to 
serve  as  places  of  refuge  for  UiC  inhabitants  in  periods  of  danger 
and  alarm,  until  the  militia  can  march  to  their  succour  from  the 
interior,  and  the  troops  be  put  in  motion  upon  the  rear  of  the 
invaders.     Eight  of  these  would  be  amply  sufficient,  from  vvhich 
patrols  might  be  kept  up  along  the  frontier  to  enforce  the  inter- 
course laws.     Both  descriptions  of  forts    should  be  so  con- 
structed as  to  be  defended  by  a  small  garrison,  and  in  a  manner 
that  each  part  may  be  successfully  maintained  against  a  very 
superior  force,  both  during  the  time  the  whole  is  being  com- 
pleted, and  in  the  event  of  any  portion  of  it  being  burnt  or  de- 
stroyed.    This  arrangement  would  require  tlio  establishment  of 
a  few  depots  of  arms  and  supplies,  from  which  communications 
should  be  opened  to  the  posts.     The  accompanying  skeleton 
map  presents  a  view  of  the  relative  positions  of  the  posts  and 
depots,  and  of  the  communications  from  them  to  the  line  of  de- 
fence for  the  speedy  transportation  of  succours  and  supplies. 
A  regular  force  of  five  thousand  men  would  be  sufficient  to  gar- 
rison these  posts,  and,  with  a  competent  reserve  at  Jefferson 
barracks,  and  an  effective  force  at  Baton  Rouge,  would,  I  think, 
both  ensure  the  safety  of  the  western  frontier,  and  enable  the 
Government  to  fulfil  all  its  treaty  stipulations,  and  preserve  its 
faith  with  the  Indians,     I  would  recommend,  as  an  important 


268 


marryat's  diary. 


;|- 


auxiliary  to  this  system  of 'defence,  the  organization  of  an  effi- 
cient volunteer  force,  to  be  raised  in  each  of  the  frontier  States ; 
the  men  to  be  mustered  into  service  for  a  certain  term  of  time, 
the  officers  to  be  appointed  according  to  their  State  laws,  and 
to  be  instructed  a  certain  number  of  days  in  each  year  by  the 
regular  officers  of  the  United  States  army  at  the  posts  within 
the  states,  and  to  receive  pay  during  that  period.  In  this  man- 
ner an  efficient  corps  of  olRcers  may  be  created,  and  a  body  of 
volunteers  be  at  hand  to  march  to  the  succour  of  the  border 
settlers  and  repel  the  invaders,  whenever  they  are  called  upon 
by  the  proper  authority. 

"  I  venture  to  hope,  if  these  measures  are  adopted  by  Con- 
gress, and  carried  into  effect  at  an  early  day,  so  as  to  anticipate 
any  ho?  tile  movement  of  the  Indivms,  peace  will  be  preserved 
on  our  Western  borders ;  but  if  they  should,  unfortunately,  be 
delayed  until  the  discontent  which  exists  among  many  of  the 
tribes  breaks  out  into  open  hostility,  and  the  first  movements 
of  that  wild  and  warlike  people  prove  successful,  as  they  in- 
fallibly would  d.)  in  our  present  unprepared  state,  it  might  re- 
quire double  the  force,  and  quadruple  the  means  I  have  here 
indicated,  to  restore  and  preserve  peace  along  that  extended 
frontier.     All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

"  J.  R.  Poinsett. 

"  Hon.  James  K.  Polk, 

"  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Ueprescntalives." 

The  acting  quarter-master-general,  in  his  report,  makes  the 
following  observation  : — 

"The  obligations  of  the  Government  in  reference  to  the 
Western  frontier  are  of  a  very  peculiar  character.  It  is  first 
bound,  by  a  common  duly,  to  ])rotect  its  own  border  settlements, 
extending  along  a  line  of  one  thousand  miles,  against  the  in- 
cursions of  numerous  navaore  tribes,  separated  trom  those  settle- 
ments by  mere  imaginary  lines;  and  it  is  next  bound,  by  the 
solemn  treaty  stipulations,  with  such  of  those  tribes  as  have 
emigrated  to  that  frontier,  '  lo  protect  them  at  their  new  resi- 
dences against  all  interruptions  or  disturhances  from  any  other 
tribes  or  nations  of  Indians,  or  from  any  other  person  or  persons 
whatsoever.' 

"  If  these  ol)ligations  are  to  be  scrupulously  fulfilled  in  good 
faith,  which  wnuld  seem  to  be  due  to  our  character  as  a  nation 
professing  a  panrnal  care  over  these  people,  a  military  force  of 
ihlriy  llnnmind  mm  on  the  Western  frontier  would  scarcely  be 
adequate  to  enable  the  Government  to  discharge  its  duties  to  its 
own  citizens,  and  redeem  these  pledges  of  protection  to  the 
Indians. 

"It  is  not  my  intention,  however,  to  propose  such  a  force. 
Political  expediency,  I  presuiiie,  would  not  tolerate  it,  however 
it  might  be  justified  by  military  considerations.  It  is  merely 
adverted  to  here  in  connexion  with  the  heavy  obligations  which 


i; 


an  effi- 
States ; 
)f  time, 
ws,  and 
■  by  the 
}  within 
lis  man- 
body  of 
J  border 
ed  upon 

by  Con- 
iticipate 
reserved 
itely,  be 
y  of  the 
vements 
tliey  in- 
niffht  re- 
ive  here 
jxtended 

'fSETT. 


akes  the 

le  to  the 
t  is  first 
lements, 
t  tiie  in- 
se  settle- 
I,  by  the 
as  iiave 
new  resi- 
iiiy  other 
r  persons 

d  in  ffood 
a  nation 
'  force  of 
arcely  be 
ties  to  its 
on  to  the 

I  a  force. 
,  however 
is  merely 
Otis  which 


MARRY  AT  S   DIARY 


269 


rest  upon  Government,  and  which  have  probably  Seen  contracted 
from  time  to  time,  without  any  very  nice  calculation  of  tiie 
means  that  would  be  necessary  to  a  faithful  discharge  of  them. 
1  will,  therefore,  without  enlarging  upon  this  jjoint,  proceed  to 
state  the  minimum  force  that  is  deemed  necessary  to  give  pro- 
tection to  the  border  settlements,  and  assist  in  preserving  peace 
among  them  and  their  Indian  neighbours  along  the  line  of  the 
frontier.  These  are  great  and  important  objects  of  themselves, 
without  superadding  the  yet  more  tlifficult  task  of  protecting 
the  emigrant  tribes,  whom  our  policy  has  placed  beyond  the 
frontier,  from  the  wild  and  warlike  Indians  of  the  Far  West." 

And  Colonel  Gratiot,  in  his  report,  makes  the  following  ad- 
mission. Speaking  of  the  second,  or  middle  section,  he 
Bays  :— 

"  Secotiil,  or  Middle  Section. — The  country  beyond  this  line  is 
mostly  elevated  and  free  from  marshy  ground  ;  is  abundantly 
watered,  thinly  wooded,  healthy,  and  has  been  assigned  for  the 
permanent  residence  of  the  tribes  which  have  been,  or  are  to  be, 
removed  from  the  States  and  territories  east  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  is  still  occupied  by  the  Aborigines  originally  found  within 
its  limits.  In  numbers  they  count,  according  to  some  estimates, 
131,000,  and  can  send  to  the  field  2(),200  warriors.  As  yet,  no 
community  of  feeling,  except  of  deep  and  lasting  hatred  to  the 
white  man,  and  more  particularly  to  the  Anglo-Americans, 
exists  among  them;  and,  imless  they  coalese,  no  serious  diffi- 
culty need  be  apprehended  from  them.  Not  so,  however, 
should  they  be  induced  to  unite  for  purposes  offensive  and  de- 
fensive :  their  strength  would  then  become  apparent,  create 
confidence,  and,  in  all  probability,  induce  them  to  give  vent  to 
their  long-suppressed  desire  to  revenge  past  wrongs,  which  is 
restrained,  as  they  openly  and  freely  declare,  by  fear  alone. 
That  such  a  union  will  be  formed  at  no  distant  day,  we  have 
every  reason  to  believe ;  and  the  period  may  be  accelerated  by 
their  growing  wants,  and  the  policy  of  Mexico  to  annoy 
Texas,  and  raise  an  impenetrable  barrier  in  the  direction  of 
her  frontier." 

That  at  present  the  Western  frontier  is  defenceless  is  unde- 
niable, and  the  Florida  war  does  not  appear  to  be  at  all  nearer 
to  a  conclusion  than  it  was  two  or  three  years  ago.  That  the 
Indians  to  the  west  of  the  Mississippi  are  not  ignorant  of  what 
is  going  on  is  very  certain;  and  the  moral  ellect  arising  from 
the  protracted  defence  of  the  Seminnles  may  •  ventually  prove 
most  serious,  and  be  attended  with  enormous  expense  to  the 
Tnited  States. 

The  Federal  Government  tak'?s  every  precaution  to  impress 
the  Indians  with  an  idea  of  the  impossibility  of  their  opposing 
the  white  men.  The  agents  persuade  the  chiefs  to  go  down  to 
Washin^non  to  see  their  great  father,  the  President.  On  these 
occasions  they  are  accompanied  by  the  Indian  agent  and  inter- 

23* 


270 


marbyat's  diary. 


m   ' 


m 


ni 


preter,  and,  of  course,  all  their  expenses  are  paid.  They  are 
lodged  at  the  hotels,  taken  to  all  places  of  public  amusement,  and 
provided  with  conveyances.  But  the  policy  of  the  Government 
is  to  cause  them  to  make  a  circuit  throujrh  all  the  most  populous 
cities,  as  the  crowds  attracted  by  the  apj)earance  of  the  Indians 
^ive  them  an  extraordinary  and  incorrect  idea  of  the  American 
j)opulation.  Wherever  they  ^o  tiiey  are  in  a  crowd.  If  they 
are  at  the  windows  of  an  hotel,  still  the  crowds  are  immense; 
and  this  is  what  the  Government  is  anxious  should  take  place. 
1  was  at  Uoston  when  the  two  deputaticms  of  the  tSioux  and 
Sacs  and  Foxes  tribes  arrived.  The  two  nations  being-  at  enmity, 
the  Sioux  were  conducted  tliere  first,  and  left  the  town  on  the 
arrival  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  or  there  would  probably  have 
been  a  fiorht.  The  Governor  received  the  latter  in  the  Town- 
hall,  and  made  a  speech  ;  I  was  j)resent.  1  thought  at  the  time 
that  it  was  not  a  speech  that  1  would  have  made  to  them,  and 
if  I  mistook  not,  it  brouglit  up  recollections  not  very  ajrreeable 
to  the  chiefs,  although  they  were  t<io  politic  to  exjuess  their 
feelinifs.  But  a  few  years  before,  their  lands  east  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi had  been  wrested  from  them  in  the  most  unfair  way,  as 
I  have  mentioned  in  my  remarks  upon  the  treatment  of  the  In- 
dians by  the  American  Government. 

Governor  Everett  commenced  his  speech  as  follows  : — 

"  Chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  confederated  Sacs  and  Foxes, 
you  are  welcome  to  our  Hall  of  Council.  You  have  come  a  far 
way,  from  your  red  friends  of  the  West,  to  visit  your  white 
brethren  of  the  East.  We  are  glad  to  take  you  by  the  hand. 
We  have  heard  before  of  the  Sacs  and  the  Fox  tribes  :  we  have 
heard  much  of  their  chiefs,  warriors,  and  great  men  :  we  are 
now  oflad  to  see  them  here.  We  are  of  Massachusetts  :  the  red 
men  once  resided  here:  their  wi<Twams  were  on  yonder  hill  : 
and  their  Council  Chamber  was  here.  When  our  fathers  came 
over  the  great  waters,  they  were  a  sn)all  band,  and  you  were 
powerful :  the  red  men  stood  on  the  rock  by  the  seaside,  and 
looked  at  them  with  friendly  eyes  :  he  might  have  pushed  tJ'<»m 
into  the  water,  but  took  them  by  the  hand,  and  said  welcome, 
white  men.  Our  fathers  were  hungry,  and  the  red  man  gave 
them  corn  and  venison.  Our  fathers  were  cold,  and  the  red 
man  spread  his  blanket  over  them  and  made  them  warm.  Wo 
are  now  great  and  powerful,  but  we  will  remernhcr  in  our  pros- 
perity the  benefits  bestowed  by  our  red  brethren  in  our  ad- 
versity." 

Up  to  the  present,  they  certainly  have  forgotten  them  !  ! 

But  the  fate  of  the  red  man  appears  to  be  nearly  decided 
What  between  their  wars  with  each  other,  the  use  of  spirituous 
liquors,  and  the  diseases  imported  by  the  whiteS;  they  dwindle 
away  every  day.     The  most  fatal  disease  to  them  is  the  small- 
pox.   The  following  account,  which  I  have  extracted  from  one 


5-i 


marryat's  diart. 


271 


of  the  American  papers,  was  confirmed  to  me  by  a  letter  from 
Fort  Snellinjj : — 

.ippallinu;  dcstmctinn  of  JVortk-ivrxt  Indiam  hi/  Small-pox. 


W 


terd; 


of  th 


of 


I 


m  account 
demic  by  means  of  a  steam-boat  tradintr  on  tbeMissouri.  To- 
day vve  subjoin,  from  tbe  St.  Louis  Bulletin  slip  of  March  3d,  a 
detailed  account  of  its  ravagres.  The  disease  has  reached  tho 
remote  band  of  the  Blackfeet,  and  thousands  of  them  had  fallen 
victims.     They  do  not  blame  the  traders. 

"  The  '  Pipe  Stem,'  u  chief  of  jrreat  influence,  when  dyinn^, 
called  his  people  arourul  him,  and  his  last  request  was,  tliat'they 
\vould  love  their  traders,  and  be  always  governed  by  their  ad- 
vice. '  I  may,'  says  one  of  the  traders,  '  be  blamed  for  not 
using  measures  to  arrest  the  j)r()gress  of  the  disease,  but  with- 
out resort  to  arms  on  the  arrival  of  the  boat  with  supplies,  the 
Indians  could  not  have  been  driven  from  the  fort.' 

"  An  express  went  two  days  a-head  of  the  boat,  but  it  was  of 
no  use  preaching  to  the  Indians  to  fly — they  flocked  down  to 
the  boat  as  usual  when  she  arrived.  The  peltry  trade  in  that 
quarter  is  ruined  for  years.  The  company  agent  at  Fort  Union, 
writes,  Nov.  30,  that  all  their  prospects  on  the  Upper  Missouri 
are  totally  prostrated.  The  epidemic  spread  into  tbe  most  dis- 
tant part  of  the  Assinaboin  country,  and  this  tribe  were  dying 
by  fifties  and  hundreds  a  day.  The  disease  appeared  to  be  of 
a  peculiarly  malignant  cast ;  some,  a  few  moments  after  severe 
attacks  of  pain  in  the  head  and  loins,  fell  down  dead,  and  the 
bodies  turned  black  immediately  after,  and  swelled  to  three  times 
their  natural  size.  'J'he  companies  erected  hospitals,  but  they 
were  of  no  use.  The  carts  were  constantly  employed  burying 
the  dead  in  holes;  afterwards,  wiien  the  earth  was  frozen,  they 
were  consigned  to  the  water.  Many  of  the  scjuaws  are  left  in 
a  miserable  condition.  The  disease  has  not  reached  the  Sioux 
many  of  whom  have  been  vaccinated. 

"The  Mandans,  numbering  1, GOO,  living  in  permanent  vil- 
lages 1,600  miles  above  St.  Louis,  have  alldied  but  thirty-one. 

"The  Minatarees,  or  Gros  V^entres,  living  near  the  Mandans, 
numbering  about  1,000,  were,  by  our  last  accounts,  about  one 
half  dead,  and  the  disease  still  raging. 

"  The  Arikarees,  amounting  to  3,000,  who  but  lately  aban- 
doned a  wandering  life,  and  joined  the  Mandans,  were  about 
half  dead,  and  the^disease  still  among  them.  It  is  probable 
ihey  have  been  reduced  in  proportion  to  the  Mandans. 

"  The  Assinaboins,  a  powerful  tribe,  about  y,000  strong,  liv- 
ing entirely  by  the  chase,  and  ranging  north  of  the  Missouri, 
in  the  plains  below  the  Rocky  Mountains,  down  toward  the 
Hudson^s  Bay  Company,  on  the  north  lied  River,  are  liitrally 
annihilnfed.  Their  principal  trade  was  at  Fort  Union,  mouth 
of  the  Yellow  Sione. 


11. 


t73 


MARRY  AT  S   DIARY. 


IV 


I     i 


"  The  Crees,  living  in  the  same  region,  numbering  3,000,  are 
nearly  all  destroyed.  The  great  nation  called  Blackfeet,  who 
wander  and  live  f)y  the  chase,  ranging  through  all  the  region 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  divided  into  bands — Piegans,  Gros 
Ventres,  Blood  Indians,  and  Blackfeet,  amounting  in  all  to 
50,000  or  60,000,  have  deeply  suffered.  One  thousand  lodges 
or  families  have  been  destroyed,  and  the  disease  was  rapidly 
spreading  among  the  different  bands.  The  average  number  in 
a  lodge  is  from  six  to  eight  persons. 

"  The  boat  that  brought  up  the  small-pox  made  her  voyage 
last  summer,  and  the  ravages  of  the  distemper  appear  to  have 
been  jrreatest  in  October.  It  broke  out  amonjr  the  Mandans, 
July  15th.  Many  of  the  handsome  Arickarees  who  had  reco- 
vered, seeing  the  disfiguration  of  their  features,  committed  sui- 
cide ;  some  by  throwing  themselves  from  rocks,  others  by 
stabbing,  shooting,  Sec,  The  prairie  has  become  a  grave  yard; 
its  wild  flowers  bloom  over  the  sepulchres  of  Indians.  The 
iitmosphere  for  miles  is  poisoned  by  the  stench  of  hundreds  of 
carcasses  unburied.  The  women  and  children  are  wandering 
in  groups  without  food,  or  howling  over  the  dead.  The  men 
are  flying  in  every  direction.  The  proud,  warlike,  and  noble 
looking  Blackfeet  are  no  more.  The  deserted  lodges  are  seen 
on  the  hills,  but  no  smoke  issues  from  them.  No  sound  but 
the  raven's  croak,  and  the  wolf's  long  howl  breaks  the  awful  still- 
ness. The  wolves  fatten  on  the  dead  carcasses.  The  scene 
of  desolation  is  described  as  appalling  beyond  the  powers  of 
imagination  to  conceive." 

That  they  may  give  the  Americans  much  trouble,  however, 
previous  to  their  final  extermination,  is  true,  and  that  they  are 
anxious  to  revenge  themf>elves,  is  equally  certain.  The  greatest 
misfortune  which  could  happen  to  the  United  States  would  be  a 
union  or  mixture  of  the  netjroes  with  the  Indian  tribes.  If  this 
were  to  take  place,  the  population  would,  in  all  probability, 
rapidly  increase,  instead  of  falling  away  as  it  now  does;  as  then 
the  negro  population  would  till  the  ground  sufiiciently  for  the 
support  of  themselves  and  the  Indians,  as  they  now  do  among 
tlie  Creek  and  Seminole  tribes,  who  have  plenty  of  cattle  an(l 
corn.  The  American  Indian  in  his  natural  state  suffers  much  from 
hunger,  and  this  is  one  cause  of  the  non-increase  of  their  popu- 
lation. What  might  be  effected  by  the  bands  now  concentrated 
on  the  American  frontier,  if  at  any  future  time  they  should  be- 
come amalgated  with  the  negroes,  will  be  fairly  estimated  by 
the  reader  when  he  has  read  the  account  I  am  about  to  lay  before 
him  of  the  war  in  Florida. 


'-vf 


marryat's  diarv. 


273 


3,000,  are 

:feet,  who 
he  region 
ana,  Gro3 
in  all  to 
nd  lodges 
13  rapidly 
lumber  in 

er  voyage 
to  have 
Mandans, 
had  reco- 
litted  sui- 
Dthers  by 
ave  yard; 
ms.  The 
adreds  of 
vandering 
The  men 
and  noble 
are  seen 
sound  but 
wful  still- 
^he  scene 
jowers  of 

however, 
t  they  are 
e  greatest 
r'ould  be  a 
5.  If  this 
obability, 
s;  as  then 
ly  for  the 
io  among 
cattle  an(l 
Quch  from 
leir  popu- 
icentrated 
hould  be- 
mated  by 
lay  before 


CHAPTER  IX. 


causes  of  the  FiiOniDA  war. 


Most  of  my  countrymen  are  aware  that  the  Americans  have 
been  carrying  on  a  war  against  the  Florida  Indians  for  the  last 
two  or  three  years ;  the  details,  however,  are  not  so  well  known; 
and  as  this  Florida  war  ought  to  be  a  lesson  to  the  Americans, 
and  may,  as  a  precedent  to  the  other  Indians,  prove  of  great  im- 
portance, I  shall  enter  into  the  particulars  of  it.  I  am  moved, 
indeed,  so  to  do,  as  it  will  atford  the  reader  a  very  fair  specimen 
of  the  general  policy  and  mode  of  treatment  shewn  to  the  Indians 
by  the  American  government.  Florida  was  ceded  by  Spain  to 
the  United  States  as  a  set-off  against  500,000  dollars,  claimed 
by  the  Americans  for  spoliations  committed  on  her  commerce. 
The  white  population  of  Florida  is  not  very  numerous  even  now ; 
the  census  of  1830  gave  18,000  whites  and  10,000  slaves,  inde- 
pendent of  the  Florida  Indians,  or  Seminoles.  Seminoles  is  a 
term  for  runaways  or  wanderers ;  the  Indian  tribes  in  Florida 
being  a  compound  of  the  old  Florida  Indians,  two  varieties  of 
Creeks,  who  quitted  their  tribe  previous  to  their  removal  west 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  Africans  who  are  slaves  to  the  Indians. 
Their  numbers  at  the  commencement  of  the  war  was  estimated 
as  follows : — 

Warriors 

The  Mico-sukee  Indians,  of  which  Osseola,  or  Asseola, 

was  one  of  the  principal  chiefs         _        -        -        -        400 

Creek  and  Spanish  Indians 8r)0 

Negroes  GOO  to  700 

In  all  about  1900  warriors. 

The  chief  of  the  whole  Seminole  nation  is  Mic-e-no-pah,  and 
next  to  him  in  conse(iuence,  as  orator  of  the  nation,  is  an  Indian 
of  the  name  of  Jumper.  It  must  be  ol)servpd  that  tiiese  Indians, 
liaving  slaves,  cultivaUnl  the  ground  and  had  large  stocks  of 
cattler  Florida,  like  all  the  confmes  of  the  United  States,  had 
a  white  population  not  very  creditable  to  any  country,  and  many 
of  these  people  wer"  tiiere  more  with  a  view  of  robbing  the  In- 
dians of  their  negroes  and  cattle,  and  soiling  them  in  the  West- 
ern States,  than  with  any  intention  of  jjermanently  settling  in 

the  country. 

As  soon  as  the  Floridas  were  ceded  by  the  Spanish,  the 
American  Government  perceived  the  expediency  of  removing 
the  Indians  from  the  territories,  and,  on  the  I8th  of  September, 
1823,  a  treaty  was  entered  into  with  the  Indians,  by  which  the 
Indians,  on  their  part,  agreed  to  remove  to  the  westward  after 
twenty  years  from  that  date,  that  is  on  September  18lh,  184. . 


274 


marrvatt's  diary. 


il 


ft; 


By  the  same  treaty  the  American  Government  secured  to  the 
Indians  a  tract  of  land  in  Florida,  containintr  five  millions  of 
acres,  for  their  subsistence  durinjr  the  time  that  they  remained 
in  that  State ;  and  agreed  to  pay  the  Indians  certain  annuities, 
in  consequence  of  their  surrendtring  all  title  to  the  rest  of  the 
Florida  country,  and  engaging  to  confine  themselves  to  the 
limits  of  the  territory  allotted  to  them. 

Nothing  could  be  more  plain  or  simple  than  the  terms  of  this 
treaty,  which,  in  consequence  of  the  council  being  held  at  this 
spot,  was  denominated  the  treaty  of  Camp  Moultrie. 

The  third  article  in  the  treaty  of  Camp  Moultrie  runs  as  fol- 
lows:— "The  United  States  will  take  the  Florida  Indians  under 
iheir  care  and  patronage,  and  will  afford  tlicm  protediun  against 
ail  persons  whatsoever.^'' 

One  of  the  gre^it  errors  committed  by  the  American  (Jlovern- 
mentwas  in  binding  itself  to  perform  what  was  not  in  its  power. 
It  could  no  more  protect  these  Indians  against  the  white  ma- 
rauders, than  it  could  prevent  the  insurgents  from  attacking 
Upper  Canada.  The  arm  of  the  Federal  Government  is  too 
weak  to  reach  its  own  confines,  as  will  hereafter  be  shewn  by 
its  own  acknowledgment.  The  consecjuence  was  that,  very 
soon  after  the  treaty  of  Camp  Moultrie  had  been  signed,  the 
Indians  were  robbed  and  plundered  by  the  miscreants  who 
hovered  near  them  for  that  purpose. 

An  American  author  states  that  two  men,  Robinson  and  Wil- 
burn,  belonging  to  Georgia,  contrived  to  steal  from  one  chief 
twenty  slaves,  to  the  value  of  15,000  dollars,  and  carried  them 
to  New  Orleans.  I  will  however  quote  a  portion  of  the  work. 
"  Another  influential  chief,  Emachitochustern,  commonly 
called  John  Walker,  was  robbed  of  a  number  of  slaves  in  a 
somewhat  similar  manner.  After  making  an  appeal  to  the 
government  agent,  without  the  least  chance  of  redress,  he  says : 
'  I  don't  like  to  make  any  trouble  or  to  have  any  quarrel  with 
white  people,  but,  if  they  will  trespass  on  my  lands  and  rights, 
I  must  defend  myself  the  best  way  I  can,  and  if  they  do  come 
again  they  must  bear  the  consequences.  But  is  there  no  civil 
law  to  protect  me  ]  are  the  negroes  belonging  to  me  to  be  stolen 
away  publicly  in  the  face  of  all  law  and  justice  ?  carried  off 
and  sold  to  fill  the  pockets  of  these  land  pirates.  Douglass  and 
his  company  have  hired  a  man,  who  has  two  large  trained  dogs 
for  the  purpose,  to  come  and  take  olV  others.  He  is  from  Mobile, 
and  follows  catching  negroes.' 

"  Colonel  John  Blount,  another  estimable  chief,  was  inhu- 
manly beaten  by  a  party  of  white  men,  who  robbed  him  of  several 
hundred  dollars ;  he  made  application  to  the  authorities,  but  the 
villains  were  allowed  to  escape. 

"  These  facts  show  how  nald  and  forbearing  the  Seminoles 
have  acted  under  the  most  trying  circumstances ;  and  even  when 
their  property  has  been  assailed  in  this  way,  they  have,  in  nu- 


w< 
mi 

tii 
a 


MARRY  AT  8   DIART. 


•275 


red  to  the 
lillions  of 
r  remained 
annuities, 
est  of  the 
^es  to  the 

"ms  of  this 
eld  at  this 

jns  as  fol- 
ians  under 
tJii  against 

n  Govern- 
its  power, 
white  ma- 
attacking 
ent  is  too 
shewn  by 
that,  very 
igned,  the 
3ants  who 

and  Wil- 
one  chief 
ried  them 
he  work, 
ommonly 
aves  in  a 
al  to  the 

he  says  : 
rrel  with 
nd  rights, 

do  come 
3  no  civil 

be  stolen 
irried  off 
glass  and 
ined  dogs 
n  Mobile, 

vas  inhu- 
of several 
!s,  but  the 

»eminoles 
ven  when 
^e,  in  nu- 


merous instances, refi-ained  from  making  resistance;  their  hands 
were  bound,  as  the  severest  punishment  awaited  any  attack  they 
rnight  make  upon  the  intruders,  even  though  circumstances  jus- 
tified it.  But  as  the  Indian's  evidence  could  not  be  received  in 
a  court  of  justice,  the  white  man's  oath  would  condemn  him  to 
the  most  torturing  punishment." 

But  in  every  way  were  the  poor  Indians  the  prey  of  the  whitr 
men.  The  same  author  says,  among  many  other  cases  brought 
forward,  "  A  man,  by  the  name  of  Floyd,  was  employed  by  an 
Indian  woman  to  recover  some  negroes  for  her,  and  instead  of 
presenting  a  mere  power  of  attorney  for  her  signature,  she  found, 
alas !  it  was  a  bill  of  sale  for  all  her  negroes !  Another  individ- 
ual was  requested  by  Miconopy,  governor  of  the  Seminoles,  to 
draw  a  piece  of  writing  for  him,  to  which,  without  suspicion  of 
its  character,  he  attached  his  name ;  it  was  soon  after  discovered 
to  be  a  conveyance  of  a  large  tract  of  land ! 

Another  source  of  profit  to  these  scoundrels  was  the  obtaining 
by  fraudulent  means  from  the  Indians,  orders  upon  the  Ameri- 
can Government  for  the  payment  of  portions  of  their  annuity 
granted  in  return  for  the  cession  of  the  territory.  "  One  of  the 
government  agents  was  a  delinquent  to  them  for  a  considerable 
amount.  He  robbed  the  principal  interpreter  of  the  nation,  a 
veqi  influential  black  chief  by  the  name  of  Abraham,  of  several 
hundred  dollars,  by  getting  a  receipt  from  him  without  paying 
the  money,  under  the  plea  that  it  was  necessary  to  send  the  re- 
c^^ipt  to  Washington,  where  it  was  filed  to  the  credit  of  the  agent. 
Several  other  Indians  of  influence  were  robbed  in  a  similur 
manner;  and  when  they  demanded  the  money  lron>  the  succeed- 
ing agent,  they  were  t(dd  that  the  government  would  not  pay 
them.  Is  not  this  an  unsound  principle  to  adopt  in  our  inter- 
course with  the  Indians  1  Is  it  just  or  honourable  for  us  to 
send  our  own  agents  among  them,  without  their  approval,  and 
not  hold  ourselves  responsil)lc  for  their  conduct?  If  we  wore 
indebted  to  a  nation,  and  the  funds  are  sent  through  an  agent  to 
pay  over,  and  he  neglects  to  do  so,  are  we  not  still  liable,  and 
would  not  a  civilized  power  still  hold  us  responsible]" 

I  have  mentioned  tliese  facts  to  show  that  the  Indians  were 
justified  in  their  want  of  fviith  in  the  white  men  :  they  were 
robbed  and  pillaged  and  had  no  redress ;  nay,  they  were  im- 
prisoned as  thieves  for  taking  away  their  own  cattle  which  hatl 
been  stolen  from  them,  although  they  showed  their  own  marks 
and  brands  upon  them.  Whether  the  American  (Government 
offered  all  this  spoliation  with  a  view  to  disgust  the  Indians  and 
incline  them  to  remove  to  the  wstward,  the  reader  will  be 
better  able  to  judge  for  himself  when  he  has  read  a  few  pages 
more. 

The  Florida  people  were  now  subjected  to  retaliation  on  the 
part  of  the  Indians,  who,  finding  that  they  could  obtain  no 
redress,  naturally  took  the  l'.vvv  into  their  own  hands,  and  loss 


376 


MARRY  AT's    DIARV. 


iV    i| 


»Ii 


i^ 


of  life  on  botli  sides  was  the  ponsequenre.  This  produred 
petition  after  petition  from  the  Flnrjihi  whit»'  populati  n  to  the 
jrovernment,  requeslinjf  that  the  Indians  niijrht  be  inov«  '  west 
prior  to  1813,  the  period  atrreed  upon  hy  the  treaty  u I  C'am[> 
Moultrie.  Colonel  (Jadsden,  a  citizen  of  Florida,  was  appoiHt- 
e«l  eoniniissioner  to  treat  with  the  Indians,  and  on  the  8th  of 
April  1832,  had  an  interview  with  Mie-e-no-pah,  and  a  few 
other  chiefs.  'I'he  Indians  refpustcd  thirty  days  to  collect  the 
opinions  of  the  absent  chiefs,  and  on  the  Hth  of  May  1832,  they 
met  the  connnissioner,  accord iiifr  to  ai)pointment,  at  Payne's 
Landing.  The  commissioner  had  a  jrrcat  deal  of  difficulty  in 
obtaining  their  consent  to  the  removal,  which  was  ultimatily 
given  upon  certain  conditions. 

By  this  treaty,  the  Indians  atrreed  to  remove  west  upon  beinjr 
paid  a  certiin  sum  for  the  reserved  land  ;  an  annuity  for  a  certain 
number  of  years ;  and  other  advantages,  which  would  occupy 
too  much  space  to  particularize  here.  The  treaty  was  signed 
by  Mic-e-no-pah,  the  head  chief,  Juniper,  and  thirteen  more. 

But  the  treaty  was  assented  to  upon  (me  condition,  which 
was,  that  the  Seminoles  were  snlisfied  'w'Uh  the  lands  apportioned 
to  them  west  of  the  Mississippi.  This  is  acknowledged  by 
Colonel  Gadsden,  in  his  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  who 
says — "  There  is  a  condition  prefixed  to  the  agreement,  without 
assentinpr  to  which  the  ,Florida  Indians  most  positively  refused 
to  negotiate  for  their  removal  west  of  the  Mississippi.  Even 
with  the  condition  annexed,  there  was  a  reluctance  (which 
with  some  difficulty  was  overcome)  on  the  part  of  the  Indians, 
to  bind  themselves  by  any  stipulations  before  a  knowledge  of 
facts  and  circumstances  would  enable  them  to  judge  of  the 
advantages  or  disadvr.n'ages  of  the  disposition  the  government 
of  the  United  States  wished  to  make  of  them.  They  were 
finally  induced,  however,  to  assent  to  the  agreement." 

"'i'he  final  ratification  of  the  treaty  will  depend  upon  the 
opinion  of  the  seven  chiefs  selected  to  explore  the  country  west 
of  the  Mississippi  river.  If  that  corresponds  to  the  description 
given,  or  is  equal  to  the  expectations  formed  of  it,  there  will  be 
no  difficulty  on  the  part  of  the  Seminoles." 

There  was  a  very  unwise  delay  on  the  part  of  the  American 
government  after  the  signing  of  this  second  treaty.  More  than 
two  years  were  permitted  to  elapse  befor-"  any  appropriation  of 
land  was  made  for  the  Indians,  who  became  dissatisfied,  and 
tlie  treaty  was  by  them  pronounced  to  be  "a  white  man's  treaty," 
which  they  did  not  any  longer  consider  to  be  binding. 

But  there  are  other  reasons  why  the  Seminoles  did  not  con- 
sider the  treaty  as  binding;  they  did  not  like  the  lands  allotted 
to  them.  A  deputation  of  seven  was  sent  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi :  the  land  they  acknowledged  was  good  land,  'out  they 
found  that  they  were  close  to  the  Pawnee  territory,  and  that 
that  tribe  was  proverbially  famous  for  stealing  cattle  and  horses. 


8  produced 
latii  (1  to  the. 
fiiov*  '  west 
ly  ul  ( 'ani(» 
las  apj)oint- 

the  8th  of 

ami  a  few 

I  collect  the 

1832,  they 
at  Payne's 
difficulty  in 

ultimately 

upon  hoiwfr 
for  a  certain 
iild  occupy 
«'as  signed 
n  more, 
tion,  which 
apportioned 
v'ledged  hy 
War,  who 
nt,  without 
ely  refused 
ipi.  Even 
ce  (which 
le  Indians, 
Dwledge  of 
\gG  of  the 
rovemment 
Phey  were 

upon  the 
imtry  west 
description 
ere  will  be 

American 
More  than 
>riation  of 
isfied,  and 
I's  treaty," 

• 

d  not  con- 
ds  allotted 
he  Missis- 
,  i)ut  they 
and  that 
nd  horses. 


MAUUYAT  S    DIAUV,  ^77 

It  wafl  also  the  d«lrrmli»ati()i\  of  the  AiMt-rir.ui  (•'ovcriuurnt,  an 
thi-y  were  considered  as  a  portion  of  liie  ('nek  nation,  to  settle 
llji'Hi  near  to  and  incorporate  iheni  with  that  iialioo.  This  did 
tiot  suit  them;  the  Crieks  had  claimed  many  of  their  slaves, 
and  they  knew  that  they  had  no  chance  with  sO  superior  a  f<»ree 
as  that  of  the  ('revk  nation,  who  wotdd  have  taken  all  ilieir 
slaves  from  them.  As,  therefore,  the  I'awnees  would  have 
stolen  all  their  cattle,  and  the  Creeks  have  taken  all  their  slavfs, 
they  considered  that  utter  destitution  would  he  the  conset|ueiif,' 
of  the  removal  as  propos<'d  hy  the  American  (lovernuu'ut.  'Vo 
•/et  over  the  latter  iliiHculty,  the  ^overmnent  j)ropose(l  that  the 
Seminoles  should  sell  their  slaves  pnvious  to  their  removitiir, 
hut,  this  they  ohjected  to.  TIk;  Americaji  author!  have  (|uoted 
says : — 

*'  It  was  then  sufrijested  to  them  that,  hy  a  sale  of  the)<e  ne- 
pr(M's  before  they  left  Florida,  they  would  au^uent  their  ro- 
swurces,  and  could  go  into  their  new  country  without  the  dread 
of  exciting  thectipidity  of  tin  ('reeks.  Hut  tlu^se  Indians  have 
always  evinced  great  reluctaiuM!  to  |»artiug  with  their  slaves  : 
indeed  the  Indian  loves  his  neirro  as  much  as  one  of  his  own 
children,  and  the  stc^rnest  necessity  alone  wojihl  drive  him  to 
the  |)arting ;  this  recommendation  was,  therefore,  viewe<l  with 
evident  alarm,  and  as  the  right  of  retaining  posse.-.sion  of  them 
was  guaranteed  by  the  commissioner,  strong  doubts  were  raised 
as  to  the  sincerity  of  the  pledgt;. 

"The  Seminole  Indians  are  poor  agriculturists  and  husbatul- 
men,  and  withal  too  indolent  tf)  till  the  ground,  and,  without 
their  negroes,  would  literally  starve  :  besides,  should  they  dis- 
])ose  of  them  they  could  not  be  re  |)leinshed  in  a  new  country. 
Again:  the  opposition  of  the  slaves  themselves  to  being  sold 
to  the  whites  would  excite  all  their  energies  to  prevent  emigra- 
tion, for  they  dread  the  idea  of  being  transferred  to  sugar  aiul 
cotton  plantations,  where  they  must  be  subject  to  the  surveil- 
lance of  the  overseer.  The  life  of  a  slave  amon<j  the  Indians, 
compared  with  that  of  negroes  under  overseers,  is  one  of  luxury 
and  ease  ;  the  demands  upon  him  are  very  triding,  scarcely  ever 
excee«ling  eight  or  ten  bushels  I'rom  the  crop,  the  remainder 
being  applied  to  his  own  profit :  they  live  separate,  and  often 
remote,  from  their  owners,  and  enjoy  an  ecpial  share  of  liberty. 
The  negro  is  also  much  more  provident  and  ambitious  than  his 
master,  and  the  pectiliar  localities  of  the  country  eminently 
facilitate  him  in  furnishing  the  Indian  with  rum  and  tobacco, 
which  gives  him  a  controlling  intiuence  over  the  latter,  and  at 
the  same  time  affords  him  an  immense  profit;  so  that  it  can 
be  easily  imagined  that  the  negroes  would  in  no  manner  Iw 
b«nefitted  by  the  change." 

On  the  23d  of  October,  183 1,  being  two  years  and  a  half  after 
the  signing  of  the  second  treaty  at  Payne's  Landing,  a  council 
of  Inaians  was  again  summoned  by  the  agent,  who  informed 

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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MS80 

(716)873-4503 


278 


MARRTAT  S   DIARY* 


them  that  all  they  had  now  to  answer  were  the  following  qaes* 
tions  :— 

Will  you  incorporate  yourselves  with  the  Creek  nation  in  the 
Far-West? 

Will  you  have  money  for  your  cattle  which  you  leave  here 
on  your  arrival  there,  or  will  you  have  cattle  in  return  1 

Will  you  go  by  water,  or  by  land  1 

Will  you  have  your  next  annuity  paid  in  money  or  in  goods  1 

Upon  this,  the  chiefs  retired  and  held  a  private  council.  It 
is  said  that  Asseola,  the  principal  chief  of  the  tribe  of  Micosu- 
hees,  persuaded  them  strongly  to  resist  going,  and  declared  that 
he  would  consider  as  his  enemy  any  one  who  agreed  to  go. 
Asseola  had  not  signed  the  treaty.  The  next  day  the  council 
was  resumed,  and  the  chiefs  made  the  following  replies  to  the 
agent. 

'I'he  first  who  spoke  was  Holata  Mico,  principal  war  chief. 
He  expressed  his  wish  that  there  should  be  no  quarrelling,  at 
the  same  time  that  he  gave  his  evidence  as  to  the  truth  of  the 
first  book  of  Moses. 

^^Holata  Mico  then  rose,  and  said — *  God  made  all  of  us,  and 
we  all  came  from  one  woman,  sucked  one  hubby ;  we  hope  we 
shall  not  quarrel ;  that  we  will  talk  until  we  get  through.' 

^^Miconopy  then  said—'  When  we  were  at  Camp  Moultrie  we 
made  a  treaty,  and  we  were  to  be  paid  our  annuity  for  twenty 
years.    That  is  all  I  have  got  to  say.' 

^^  Jumper  said—*  At  Camp  Moultrie  they  told  us  all  difficulties 
should  be  buried  for  twenty  years,  from  the  date  of  the  treaty 
made  there ;  that  after  this  we  held  a  treaty  at  Payne's  Landing, 
before  the  twenty  years  were  out ;  and  they  told  us  we  might 
go  and  see  the  country,  but  that  we  were  not  obliged  to  remove. 
The  land  is  very  good,  I  saw  it,  and  was  glad  to  see  it ;  the 
neighbours  there  are  bad  people ;  I  do  not  like  them  bad  Indians, 
the  Pawnees.  I  went  and  saw  the  place ;  I  told  the  agent  that 
I  was  a  rogue;  that  he  had  brought  me  to  the  place  here  along- 
side, and  among  the  rogues,  the  bad  Pawnees,  because  I  am  a 
rogue.  I  went  to  see  the  land,  and  the  commissioners  said  that 
the  Seminoles  must  have  that  land.  When  we  went  west  to 
see  the  land,  we  had  not  sold  our  land  here,  and  we  were  told 
only  to  go  and  see  it.  The  Indians  there  steal  horses,  and  take 
packs  on  their  horses ;  they  all  steal  horses  from  the  different 
tribes ;  1  do  not  want  to  go  among  such  people ;  your  talk  seems 
always  good,  but  we  don't  feel  disposed  to  go  west.' 

"CAffr/ey  jmathla  then  rose,  and  said — 'The  speakers  of  the 
nation  are  all  dead ;  but  I  recollect  some  of  their  words  when 
they  had  the  meeting  at  Camp  Moultrie.  I  was  not  there,  but 
heard  that  we  would  be  at  peace,  and  that  we  would  have  our 
annuity  paid  to  us  for  twenty  years.  White  people  have  told  tm 
t?tat  the  treaty  ai  Gamp  Moultrie^  which  was  made  by  grfd  men, 
and  not  to  be  broken,  mid  secured  them  for  twenty  years,-  that  seven 
years  of  that  treaty  are  still  unexpired.   I  am  no  half  breed,  and  do 


I 
I 


MARnVAT  S    DIARY. 


279 


s* 


not  lean  on  one  side.  If  they  toll  me  to  go  after  the  seven  yeaiS, 
I  say  nothing.  As  to  the  proposition  made  us  by  the  agent 
about  removing,  1  do  not  say  I  will  not  go ;  but  I  think  that, 
until  the  seven  years  are  out,  I  give  no  answer.  My  family  I 
love  dearly  and  sacredly.  I  do  not  think  it  right  to  take  them 
right  off.  Our  father  has  often  said  to  me  that  he  loves  his 
children — and  they  love  him.  When  a  man  is  at  home,  and  got 
his  stock  about  him,  he  looks  upon  it  as  the  subsistence  of  him- 
self and  family.  Then  when  they  go  off,  they  reflect  and  think 
more  seriously  than  when  quiet  at  home.  I  do  not  complain  of 
the  agent's  talk.  My  young  men  and  family  are  all  around  me. 
Should  I  go  west,  I  should  lose  many  on  the  path.  As  to  the 
country  west,  I  looked  at  it ;  a  weak  man  cannot  get  there,  the 
fatigue  would  be  so  great ;  it  requires  a  strong  man.'  " 

This  talk  made  the  agent  very  angry ;  he  told  them  that  they 
should  stand  by  the  treaty  at  Payne's  Landing ;  he  desired  them 
to  retire,  an4  when  they  came  again  to  act  like  chiefs  and  ho- 
nourable men. 

"October  25,  1834.  The  council  convened  at  11  o'clock. 
Interpreters  as  yesterday. 

"  The  agent  said  to  the  council,  *  I  am  ready  to  receive  your 
answers  to  the  questions  which  I  submitted  to  you.' 

'•^Holata  Mieo. — *  I  have  only  to  repeat  what  I  said  yesterday, 
and  to  say  that  the  twenty  years  from  the  treaty  at  Moultrie  has 
not  yet  expired.  I  never  gave  my  consent  to  go  west;  the 
whites  may  say  so,  but  I  never  gave  my  consent.' 

" /Mmper.— '  We  are  not  satisfied  to  go  until  the  end  of  twenty 
years,  according  to  the  treaty  at  Camp  Moultrie.  We  were 
called  upon  to  go  to  the  west,  beyond  the  Mississippi.  It  is  a 
good  country;  (his  is  a  poor  country,  we  know.  We  had  a  good 
deal  of  trouble  to  get  there ;  what  would  it  be  for  all  our  tribe  V 

^^Miconopy.  *  I  say,  what  I  said  yesterday,  I  did  not  sign  the 
treaty.' 

^''Agent, — 'Abraham,  tell  Miconopy  that  I  say  he  liesf  he  did 
sign  the  treaty,  for  here  is  his  name.'  " 

Miconopy  here  asserts  that  he  did  not  sign  the  treaty,  which 
certainly  appears  to  be  a  falsehood :  but  it  should  be  remembered 
that,  by  the  agent's  own  admission,  it  was  only  a  conditional 
signature  by  a  portion  of  the  chiefs,  provided  that  they  liked  the 
location  offered  to  them ;  and  as  they  objected  to  thi8,the  treaty 
was  certainly,  in  my  opinion,  null  and  void.  Indeed,  the  agent 
had  no  right  to  demand  the  signatures  when  such  an  important 
reservation  was  attached  to  the  treaty.  I  do  not  give  the  whole 
cf  the  agent's  reply,  as  there  is  so  much  repetition ;  the  follow- 
ing are  extracts  ^— 

"  I  have  told  you  that  you  must  stand  to  your  bargain.  My 
talk  is  still  the  same.  You  must  go  west.  Your  father,  the 
President,  who  is  your  friend,  will  compel  you  to  go.  There- 
fore, be  not  deluded  by  any  hope  or  expectation  that  you  will  be 
permitted  to  remain  here.    You  have  expressed  a  wish  to  hear 


»=  SI 


li 


I- 


280 


MAKRVAr  .S    DiaRV. 


11 


my  views  and  opinion  upon  the  whole  matter.  As  a  man,  and 
your  friend,  I  will  this  day  deitrn  to  reason  with  you ;  for  I  want 
to  show  you  that  your  talk  of  to-day  is  the  foolish  talk  of  a 
child. 

"  Jumper  says,  they  agreed  at  Payne's  Ijandinar  to  go  and 
examine  the  country  west,  but  they  were  not  bound  to  remove 
to  it  until  the  nation  should  agree  to  do  so,  after  the  return  of 
the  delegation;  and  he  adds,  what  others  of  you  have  said,  that 
the  treaty  at  Camp  Moultrie  was  to  stand  for  twenty  years. 
Such  a  talk  from  Jumper  surprises  me,  for  he  is  a  man  of  sense. 
He  understands  the  treaty  at  Payne's  Landing,  which  he  signed ; 
he  was  the  first  named  in  that  treaty,  of  the  delegation  appointed 
to  go  west ;  he  knows  that  that  treaty  gave  him  and  the  mem- 
bers of  the  delegation  authority  to  decide  whetlier  the  nation 
should  remove  or  not. 

"The  Creeks,  Choctaws,  Chickasaws  and  Cherokees,  who 
live  in  the  States,  are  moving  west  of  the  Mississippi  river, 
because  they  cannot  live  under  the  white  people's  laws ;  they 
are  gone  and  going,  and  the  Seminole  nation  are  a  small  handful 
to  their  number.    Two  governments  cannot  exist  under  the  same 
boundary  of  territory.    Where  Indians  remain  within  the  limits 
of  a  state  or  territory  until  the  jurisdiction  of  a  state  or  territory 
shall  be  extended  over  them,  the  Indian  government,  laws  and 
chiefships,  are  for  ever  done  away — the  Indians  are  subject  to 
the  v;hite  man's  law.    The  Indian  must  be  tried,  whether  for 
debt  or  crime,  in  the  white  man's  court;  the  Indian's  law  is  not 
to  be  known  there ;  the  Indian's  evidence  is  not  to  be  admitted 
there;  the  Indian  will,  in  every  thing,  be  subject  to  the  control . 
of  the  white  man.    It  is  this  view  of  the  subject  which  induces 
your  father,  the  President,  to  settle  his  red  children  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  states  and  territories,  where  the  white  man's  law  is 
never  to  reach  you,  and  where  you  and  your  children  are  to 
possess  the  land,  while  the  grass  grows  and  the  water  runs. 
He  feels  for  his  red  children  as  a  father  should  feel.     It  is, 
therefore,  that  he  made  the  treaty  with  you  at  Payne's  Landing, 
and  for  the  same  reason  he  will  compel  you  to  comply  with  your 
bargain.    But  let  us  look  a  little  more  closely  into  your  own 
situation.     Suppose  (what  is  however  impossible)  that  you 
could  be  permitted  to  remain  here  a  few  years  longer,  what 
would  be  your  condition  1     This  land  will  soon  be  surveyed^  sold 
to,  and  settled  6y,  the  whites.     There  is  now  a  surveyor  in  the 
country;  the  jurisdiction  of  the  territory  vntt  soon  he  extended  over 
this  country.    Your  laws  will  be  set  aside^  your  chiefs  will  cease  to 
be  chiefs  t  claims  for  debt  and  for  your  negroes  would  be  set  up 
against  you  by  bad  white  men,  or  you  would  perhaps  be  charged 
with  crimes  af^^cting  life ;  you  would  be  hauled  before  the  white 
man's  court  ,•  the  claims  against  you  for  debt ^  for  your  negroes  or 
other  property^  and  the  charges  of  crime  preferred  against  yoti^ 
would  he  decided  by  the  white  man's  law,     WTiite  men  would  he 
witnesses  against  you  ,•  Indians  would  not  be  permitted  to  give  evi% 


a  fe> 

and 

thusi 

witl 

of  bl 

cleaj 

him 


MARRY  AT  8   DIARY. 


381 


denee ;  your  condition^  in  a  very  few  years,  would  be  hopeless 
wretchedness,^^ 

What  an  admission  from  their  father,  the  President,  after 
having,  in  the  third  article  of  the  treaty  of  Camp  Moultrie,  de- 
clared that  the  United  States  will  afford  the  Florida  Indians 
protection  against  all  persons  whatsoever ! ! ! 

"  Thus,  you  may  see,  that  were  it  possible  for  you  to  remain  here 
a  few  years  longer,  you  would  be  reduced  to  hopeless  poverty, 
and  when  urged  by  hunger  to  ask,  perhaps,  of  the  man  who 
thus  would  have  ruined  you  (and  is,  perhaps,  now  tampering 
with  you  for  the  purpose  of  getting  your  property)  for  a  crust 
of  bread,  you  might  be  called  an  Indian  dog,  and  be  ordered  to 
clear  out.  [Here  Jsseola,  who  was  seated  by  Miconopy,  urged 
him  to  be  firm  in  his  resolution.]  Your  father,  the  President, 
sees  all  these  evils,  and  will  save  you  from  them  by  removing 
you  west ;  and  I  will  stand  up  for  the  last  time  to  tell  you,  that 
you  must  go  ;  and  if  not  willingly,  you  will  be  compelled  to  go. 
I  should  have  told  you  that  no  more  annuity  will  be  paid  to  you 
here.  [Asseola  replied,  that  he  did  not  care  whether  any  more 
was  ever  paid.]  I  hope  you  will,  on  more  mature  reflection, 
act  like  honest  men,  and  not  compel  me  to  report  you  to  your 
father,  the  President,  as  faithless  to  your  engagements." 

"  Asseola  said,  the  decision  of  the  chiefs  was  given ;  that 
they  did  not  intend  to  give  any  other  answer. 

**  Miconopy  said, — '  I  do  not  intend  to  remove.' 

"  The  Agent. — '  I  am  now  fully  satisfied  that  you  are  wilfully 
disposed  to  be  entirely  dishonest  in  regard  to  your  engagements 
with  the  President,  and  regret  that  I  must  so  report  you.  The 
talk  which  I  have  made  to  you  must  and  will  stand." 

Thus,  indeed,  the  council  and  the  parties  separated.  The 
American  government  was  supine,  thinking,  probably,  that  the 
Indians  would  not  resist  much  loivger ;  but  the  Indians,  on  the 
other  hand,  laid  up  large  stores  of  powder  and  lead.  Six 
months  elapsed,  and  then  the  Indians  were  informed  that  they 
were  to  hear  the  last  talk  of  the  father,  the  President,  on  this 
side  of  the  Mississippi.  On  the  22d  of  April,  1835,  the  In- 
dians assembled,  and  had  the  following  communication  from 
General  Jackson : — 

"  To  the  Chiefs  and  Warriors  of  the  Seminole  Indians  in 

Florida, 

"  My  Children  :  I  am  sorry  to  have  heard  that  you  have 
been  listening  to  bad  counsels.  You  know  me,  and  you  ksow 
that  I  would  not  deceive,  nor  advise  you  to  do  any  thing  that 
was  unjust  or  injurious.  Open  your  ears  and  attend  to  what  I 
shall  now  say  to  you.  They  are  the  words  of  a  friend,  and  the 
words  of  truth. 

**The  white  people  are  settling  around  you.  The  game  has 
disappeared  from  your  country.  Your  people  are  poor  and 
hungry.    All  this  you  have  perceived  for  some  time.     And 

24* 


lii 


383 


MARK  vat's    DIARV. 


nearly  three  years  ag'o,  you  made  an  agreement  with  yotir 
friend,  Colonel  Gadsden,  acting  on  the  part  of  the  United 
States,  by  which  you  agreed  to  cede  your  lands  in  Florida,  and 
to  remove  and  join  your  brothers,  the  Creeks,  in  the  country 
west  of  the  Mississippi.  You  annexed  a  condition  to  this 
agreement,  that  certain  chiefs,  named  therein,  in  whom  you 
placed  confidence,  should  proceed  to  the  western  country,  and 
examine  whether  it  was  suitable  to  your  wants  and  habits; 
and  whether  the  Creeks  residing  there  were  willing  to  permit 
you  to  unite  with  them  as  one  people,  and  if  the  persons  thus 
sent,  were  satisfied  on  these  heads,  then  the  agreement  made 
with  Colonel  Gadsden  was  to  be  in  full  force. 

"  In  conformity  with  these  provisions,  the  chiefs  named  by 
you  proceeded  to  that  country,  and  having  examined  it,  and 
having  become  satisfied  respecting  its  character  and  the  favour- 
able disposition  of  the  Creeks,  they  entered  into  an  agreement 
with  commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  by  which 
they  signified  their  satisfaction  on  these  subjects,  and-  finally 
ratified  the  agreement  made  with  Colonel  Gadsden. 

"I  now  learn  that  you  refuse  to  carr/  into  effect  the  solemn 
promises  thus  made  by  you,  and  that  you  have  stated  to  the 
officers  of  the  United  States,  sent  among  you,  that  you  will  not 
remove  to  the  western  country. 

"  My  children :  1  have  never  deceived,  nor  will  I  ever  de- 
ceive, any  of  the  red  people.  I  tell  you  that  you  must  go,  and 
that  you  will  go.  Even  if  you  had  a  right  to  stay,  how  could 
you  live  where  you  now  are  ?  You  have  sold  all  your  country. 
You  have  not  a  piece  as  large  as  a  blanket  to  sit  down  upon. 
What  is  to  support  yourselves,  your  women  and  children  ? 
The  tract  you  have  ceded  will  soon  be  surveyed  and  sold,  and 
immediately  afterwards  will  be  occupied  by  a  white  population. 
Y'ou  will  soon  be  in  a  state  of  starvation.  You  will  commit 
depredations  upon  the  property  of  our  citizens.  Y'ou  will  be 
resisted,  punished,  perhaps  killed.  Now,  is  it  not  better  peace- 
ably to  remove  to  a  fine,  fertile  country,  occupied  by  your  own 
kindred,  and  where  you  can  raise  all  the  necessaries  of  life,  and 
where  game  is  yet  abundant  ?  The  annuities  payable  to  you,  and 
the  other  stipulations  made  in  your  favour,  will  make  your  situa- 
tion comfortable,  and  will  enable  you  to  increase  and  improve. 
If,  therefore,  yon  h^d  a  right  to  stay  where  you  now  are,  still 
every  true  friend  would  advise  you  to  remove.  But  you  have 
no  right  to  stay,  and  you  must  go.  I  am  very  desirous  that  you 
should  go  peaceably  and  voluntarily.  Y'ou  shall  be  comfortably 
taken  care  of  and  kindly  treated  on  the  road,  and  when  you  ar- 
rive in  your  new  country,  provisions  will  be  issued  to  you  for  a 
year,  so  that  you  can  have  ample  time  to  provide  for  your  future 
support. 

"  But  lest  some  of  your  rash  young  men  should  forcibly 
oppose  your  arrangements  for  removal,  I  have  ordered  a  large 
■nilitary  force  to  be  sent  among  you.     I  have  directed  the  com- 


mandj 

Thor 

you. 

as  pri 

seasoj 

will 
badbj 
I  havl 
force.! 
to  inc 


MARRVAT^S   DIARY. 


283 


manding  officer,  and  likewise  the  agent,  your  friend  General 
Thompson,  that  every  reasonable  indulgence  be  held  out  to 
you.  But  I  have  also  directed  that  one-third  of  your  people, 
as  provided  for  in  the  treaty,  be  removed  during  the  present 
season.  If  you  listen  to  the  voice  of  friendship  and  truth,  you 
will  ^o  quietly  and  voluntarily.  But  should  you  listen  to  the 
bad  birds  that  are  always  flying  about  you,  and  refuse  to  remove, 
I  have  then  directed  the  commanding  officer  to  remove  you  by 
force.  This  will  be  done.  I  pray  the  Great  Spirit,  therefore, 
to  incline  you  to  do  what  is  rio-ht, 

"  Your  friend, 

"A.  Jackson." 

'' IVagMriffton,  February  16,  1835." 

Several  of  the  Indian  chiefs  replied,  wishing  for  amity  but 
unwilling  to  quit;  but  the  council  was  broken  up  by  the  agent, 
who  informed  them  that  he  had  been  sent  there  to  enforce  the 
treaty :  he  had  warriors  enough  to  do  it,  and  he  would  do  it.  It 
was  the  question  now  whether  they  would  go  of  their  own  ac- 
cord, or  by  force  ? 

This  determination  on  the  part  of  the  agent  induced  some  of 
the  chiefs  to  waver,  and  eventually  eight  principal  chiefs  and 
eight  sub-chiefs  signed  the  articles  agreeing  to  remove;  but 
Miconopy,  the  chief  of  the  whole  tribes,  Jumper,  the  second  in 
consequence,  and  three  other  powerful  chiefs,  refused.  Upon 
this,  the  agent  took  upon  himself  the  most  unwarrantable  re- 
sponsibility, by  saying,  Miconopy  was  no  longer  chief  of  the 
nation,  and  that  his  name  and  the  other  opposing  chiefs  were 
now  struck  out  of  the  council  of  the  nation. 

That  such  an  act  as  this  was  the  cause  of  the  greatest  irrita- 
tion  to  the  Seminoles  there  can  be  no  doubt;  and  the  conduct 
of  the  agent  was  reproved  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  who,  in  h's 
letter,  observes, — 

**  It  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  enter  into  much  detail  on  the 
subject  presented  by  you.  I  understand  from  Mr.  Harris,  that 
he  communicated  to  you  the  President's  views  on  the  subject 
of  the  chiefs  whom  you  declined  to  recognize  in  all  questions 
connected  with  the  removal  of  the  Seminoles.  I  understand 
that  the  President  deemed  this  course  an  incorrect  one ;  and  it 
seems  to  me  obviously  liable  to  strong  objections.  We  • )  not 
assume  the  right  of  determining  who  shall  be  the  chiefs  in  the 
various  Indian  tribes ;  this  is  a  matter  of  internal  policy  which 
must  necessarily  be  left  to  themselves.  And  if,  when  we  have 
a  grave  matter  for  adjustment  with  one  of  the  tribes,  we  under- 
take to  say  it  shall  he  determined  by  a  particular  class  of  indi- 
viduals, we  certainly  should  render  ourselves  obnoxious  to 
censure.    It  appears  to  me  the  proper  course,  upon  important 

3uestions,  is  to  treat  directly  with  the  tribe  itself;  and  if  they 
epute  their  chiefs,  or  any  other  individual  to  act  for  them,  we 
must  either  recognize  such  authority,  or  abandon  the  object  in 


m 


I 


I 


|rt 


View. 


»> 


.J 


984 


marrvat's  riART. 


In  June,  1835,  Ar.seo1a,  the  chief  of  Micosukees,  who  did  not 
appear  at  the  council,  but  who  was  the  most  determined  oppo- 
nent of  the  treaty,  came  in  to  complain  of  the  treatment  his 
people  had  received  from  some  white  men,  one  of  them  having 
been  wounded.  He  received  no  redress,  and  saying  something 
offensive  to  the  agent,  he  was  thrown  into  prison.  To  obtain 
his  release  he  promised  to  sign  the  treaty,  at  least,  so  it  is  said, 
and  that  he  did  sign  it;  but  this  must  be  considered  only  as  an 
Indian  stratagem :  he  had  been  imprisoned  without  any  cause, 
and  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  he  thought  himself  justified  in 
escaping  by  a  corresponding  fraud  on  his  own  part.  The  month 
after  this  occurrence,  some  of  the  tribe  of  Asseola  murdered  a 
government  mail-carrier. 

The  Indians  made  one  more  effort:  they  called  a  council,  and 
offered  to  remove  to  the  west  of  the  Mississippi,  provided  they 
had  lands  and  an  agent  for  themselves ;  but  this  was  sternly 
refused  by  the  government,  who  sent  back  as  an  answer,  that 
their  great  father.  General  Jackson,  had  been  "  made  very  angry ." 
The  attacks  and  depredations  upon  the  Indians  were  now  more 
frequent,  and  the  majority  of  them  determined  upon  resistance. 
Only  six  chiefs,  out  of  all  who  had  signed  the  treaty,  acted  to 
their  word  and  brought  in  their  cattle,  &c.  for  the  government 


agent,  to  be  sold  previous  to  their 


migration. 


Five  of  their 


chiefs  removed  to  the  protection  of  Brooke's  Fort,  as  they  feared 
that  the  Seminoles  would  punish  them  for  their  revolt.  One 
of  them,  Charley  Amathla,  was  preparing  to  follow  the  others, 
when  Asseola  and  two  other  chiefs  went  to  his  house  and  in- 
sisted that  he  should  not  remove  his  people.  Charley  Amathla 
replied  that  he  had  already  pledged  his  word  that  he  would 
abide  by  the  promise  which  he  made  to  their  great  father,  and 
that  if  his  life  paid  the  forfeit,  he  felt  bound  to  adhere  to  that 
promise.  He  said  he  had  lived  to  see  his  nation  a  ruined  and 
degraded  people,  and  he  believed  that  their  only  salvation  was 
in  removing  to  the  West ;  he  had  made  arrangements  for  his 
people  to  go,  and  had  delivered  to  the  agent  all  their  cattle,  so  that 
he  had  no  excuse  now  for  not  complying  with  his  engagements. 
One  of  the  chiefs  then  informed  him  that  the  crisis  was  come : 
he  must  either  join  them  in  their  opposition,  or  suffer  death,  and 
that  two  hours  would  be  allowed  him  to  consult  his  people  and 
give  his  determination.  He  replied,  that  his  mind  was  unaltera- 
ble, and  his  people  could  not  make  him  break  his  word ;  that 
if  he  must  die  he  hoped  they  would  grant  him  time  enough  to 
make  some  arrangements  for  the  good  of  his  people.  At  this 
moment  Asseola  raised  his  rifle  and  was  about  to  fire,  when 
Abraham  arrested  the  murderous  aim,  and  requested  them  all  to 
retire  for  a  council  with  the  other  chiefs.  Asseola,  with  a 
small  party,  however,  separated  themselves  from  the  main  body 
of  the  Indians,  and  returned  to  Charley  Amathla's,  and  shot 
him.  Thirteen  of  Amathla's  people  immediately  escaped  to 
Fort  King,  while  the  others,  deterred  by  their  fears,  remained. 


MARHVAT  a   DIARV. 


265 


until  the  return  of  the  principal  band,  when  they  joined  the 
hostile  party." 

This  was  a  fine  trait  in  the  Indian,  and  proves  that  the  Sumi- 
noles  are  not  the  faithless  peo^le  which  they  are  represented  to 
he  by  the  government  agents.  The  death  of  this  noble  Indian 
was  the  signal  for  the  commencement  of  hostilities ;  the  Indians 
immediately  abandoned  •ill  the  towns,  and,  concealing  their 
trail,  femoved  their  families  to  a  place  of  safety,  which  has  ever 
since  baffled  all  conjecture,  and  been  a  subject  of  the  greatest 
astonishment. 


J 1 


»> 


CHAPTER  X. 


FLORIDA   WAR. 


It  is  supposed  that  the  Seminoles  retreated  to  some  portion 
of  the  vast  swamps  which  surround  the  Ouithlacoochee  river; 
but  it  is  certain  that  since  the  commencement  of  the  war,  in 
December,  1835,  up  to  the  present  tinje,  their  retreat  has  never 
been  discovered.  Marauding  parties  now  commenced  on  the 
part  of  the  Indians,  who  took  summary  vengeance  on  those 
who  had  robbed  and  maltreated  them.  The  whole  country  from 
Fort  Brooke  to  Fort  King  was  under  conflagration,  and  the 
whites  were  compelled  to  abandon  every  thing,  and  seek  pro- 
tection under  the  forts.  The  American  force  in  the  department 
at  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  did  not  amount  to  five  hundred 
men.  The  militia  were  called  out,  but  military  stores  were  not 
at  hand,  and  it  was  decided  that  the  troops  must  wait  for  rein- 
forcements before  any  attack  could  be  made  upon  the  Indians ; 
the  great  object  was  to  throw  a  reinforcement  into  Fort  King. 

General  Clinch,  who  commanded  at  Fort '  -Doke,  having  been 
reinforced  with  thirty-nine  men  from  Ke_,  '^st,  no  time  was 
lost  in  preparing  two  companies  for  the  abov  j  service.  On  the 
24th  of  December,  1835,  a  force  of  one  hundred  men,  and  eight 
officers,  with  si  field-piece,  under  the  command  of  Major  Dade, 
commenced  their  march. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  when  it  had  proceeded  four 
miles  from  the  encampment  of  the  previous  night,  this  force 
was  attacked  by  the  Indians,  whose  first  volley  was  very  de- 
structive. Major  Dade  with  almost  every  man  of  the  advanced 
guard  falling  dead.  The  Indians  were  repelled  by  the  troops 
under  Captain  Gardner,  upon  whom  the  command  then  devolved, 
and  the  Americans  proceeded  to  throw  up  breastworks;  but 
before  they  could  raise  them  high  enough,  for  eflUcient  pro- 
tection, the  Indians  attacked  them  again.  The  Americans 
brought  their  field-piece  into  play,  but  the  breastworks  not 


III' 


I  ) 


286 


marrvat's  diary. 


being  high  enougrh,  the  Indians  shot  down  every  man  who  at- 
tempted  to  work  the  gun.  All  the  otficers,  and  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  the  American  troops  had  fallen,  when  the  survivors 
found  that  all  their  ammunition  was  expended.  The  Indians, 
perceiving  this,  rushed  in,  and,  with  the  exception  of  two  men, 
who,  although  severely  wounded,  contrived  to  conceal  them- 
selves, and  ultimately  to  make  their- escape;  not  one  of  the 
whole  detachment  was  spared. 

The  force  of  the  Indians  is  supposed  to  have  amounted  from 
tliree  hundred  and  fifty  to  four  hundred.  The  contest  lasted 
six  hours ;  and  it  must  be  admitted  that  nothing  could  be  more 
gallant  than  the  defence  which  was  made  by  the  troops  against 
such  a  superior  force. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  the  Americans  had  to  la- 
ment the  loss  of  General  Thompson,  the  Indian  agent  at  Fort 
King.  Imprudently  strolling  out  about  three  hundred  yards 
from  the  fort,  he  was  attacked  by  the  Indians,  who  laid  in  am- 
bush for  him,  and  with  Lieut.  Smith  and  three  other  people  be- 
longing to  the  foit,  was  shot  dead.  This  party  of  Indians  was 
headed  by  Asseoia,  who  had  warned  General  Thompson  that 
the  white  men  should  suffer  for  their  treatment  of  him.  His 
peculiar  and  shrill  war-yell  was  given  as  the  Indian  party  re- 
treated, to  let  the  whites  know  ta  whom  they  were  indebted  for 
the  massacre. 

General  Clinch  having  been  reinforced  at  Fort  Brooke,  where 
he  had  two  hundred  regular  troops,  iviih  five  hundred  volun- 
teers under  the  command  of  General  Call,  now  moved  with  the 
whole  force  of  seven  hundred  men. 

On  the  30th  of  December,  as  they  were  passing  the  Ouithla- 
coochee  river,  the  Indians  watched  their  opportunity,  and  when 
a  portion  only  of  the  troops  had  gained  the  opposite  side,  com- 
menced an  attack,  which  was  vigorously  and  successfully  re- 
sisted ;  the  Indians,  in  little  more  than  an  hour,  were  beaten 
off.  The  battle  was,  however,  severe,  and  the  Americans  sus- 
tained a  loss  of  sixty-three  killed  and  wounded.  The  Indian 
force  is  supposed  to  have  amounted  to  seven  hundred  men. 

But  independent  of  these  conflicts  with  the  militia  and  regulars, 
the  ravages  of  the  Indians  over  the  whole  country  are  stated  tu 
have  been  most  fearful.  Women  and  children  were  murdered,  and 
the  hearth  made  desolate  in  every  portion  of  the  country.  In  the 
more  settled  parts  near  St.  Augustine,  the  sugar-cane  plantations, 
with  the  expensive  works  attached  to  them,  were  destroyed,  and 
in  many  cases  the  slaves  who  were  on  the  plantations  were 
either  carried  off,  or  voluntarily  joining  the  Indians,  increased 
the  strength  of  the  enemy.  More  than  a  hundred  estates  were 
thus  laid  waste,  the  average  loss  upon  each  estate  being  com- 
puted, independent  of  the  loss  of  the  negroes,  at  fifty  thousand 
dollars. 

The  intelligence  of  this  havoc,  and  the  massacre  of  Major 


^ 


Dadei 
and  a 
promp 
Savan 
two  tl 
war. 
holdin 
the  A I 
In 


the 


marryat's  diary. 


287 


Dade  and  his  whole  party,  soon  reached  the  neijrhbouring  States, 
and  a  requisition  fi .  assistance  made  by  (leneral  Clinch,  was 
promptly  responded  to.  Meetin|r8  were  organized  at  Aupnsta, 
Savannah,  Darien,  and  Charleston,  and  in  a  lew  days  nearly 
two  thousand  volunteers  were  ready  to  march  to  the  theatre  of 
war.  Indeed,  the  cause  now  became  the  cause  of  all  the  slave- 
holdina  States,  and  was  taken  up  with  the  usual  energy  uf 
the  Americans. 

In  Louisiana  the  same  spirit  was  shewn.  General  Gaines 
was  at  that  time  on  a  tour  of  inspection,  and  had  received 
orders  to  take  charge  of  the  troops  assembling  on  the  Mexican 
frontier;  but,  at  the  request  of  the  volunteers,  he  took  command 
of  them  until  he  could  receive  further  orders  from  Washington. 
The  assistance  of  the  American  naval  forces  were  demanded 
and  obtained,  and  General  Gaines  having  received  intelligence 
that  Fort  Brooke  was  invested  by  the  Indians,  sent  an  express 
to  General  Clinch  at  Fort  King,  to  say  that  he  would  join  him 
with  his  forces  to  relieve  the  post.  The  Seminole  Indians 
who  had  agreed  to  the  treaty,  remained  firm  to  their  word,  and 
took  up  arms  against  their  brethren,  and  a  large  force  was  now 
marching  from  all  directions  to  the  succour  of  the  whites.  I 
ought  here  to  observe,  that  not  only  at  the  commencement,  but 
ever  since  the  war  has  continued,  the  difficulty  and  expense  of 
forwarding  supplies  have  been  very  great,  and  the  American 
troops  have  undergone  the  severest  privations,  as  well  as  great 
mortality,  from  sickness  and  disease. 

On  the  13th  February,  1836,  General  Gaines,  having  arrived 
at  Fort  Brooke,  reviewed  the  force,  which  amounted  to  between 
eleven  and  twelve  hundred  men,  and  commenced  his  march  to 
relieve  Fort  Kin|>",  at  which  post  he  arrived  on  the  2d  February, 
without  falling  m  with  any  of  the  Indians.  The  general  then 
made  a  detour  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians.  On  the  27th,  when 
the  force  was  crossing  the  Ouithlacoochee  River,  it  was  assaiU  d 
by  the  Indians,  who  retired  after  a  skirmish  of  three-quarters 
of  an  hour,  the  Americans'  loss  being  very  trifling.  On  the  28th, 
when  again  fording  the  river,  the  Indians  made  another  attack, 
which  was  continued  for  nearly  four  hoi-.rs,  and  the  Americans 
had  to  lament  the  loss  of  Major  Izard,  who  was  killed,  and  two 
other  officers  were  also  wounded.  On  the  29th,  the  Indians 
a^n  attacked,  with  a  force  of  at  least  a  thousand  men,  with  a 
view  of  forcing  the  American  troops  from  the  breastwork  which 
they  had  thrown  up ;  the  Indians,  after  about  two  hours  fighting, 
set  fire  to  the  high  grass ;  but  unfortunately  for  them,  the  wind 
suddenly  changed,  and,  instead  of  burning  out  the  American 
troops,  all  their  own  concealed  positions  were  burnt  up  and 
exp  sed,  and  they  were  compelled  to  retire.  The  loss  on  th« 
Indian  side  was  not  known,  but  supposed  to  be  heavy  ;  that  on 
the  part  of  the  Americans  amounted  to  thirty-two  killed  and 
wounded. 


Ui 


(    1 


li  Ki 


S88 


MAHtlVATM   DIARV. 


(jenrrnl  (laiiifH,  riiKlinjr  that  i\u^  Iiidiiins  were  so  nrar  liinif 
now  (lt>Hp>iU>ht><i  rxprcsHCH  tor  a  Hiipply  of  aiiiiiiiiiiitioii,  Itcin^ 
rcHolvr',  it'  |Mt8Kii)lr,  to  Ur'u\)i  tiinii  to  a  ^(rnrriil  action.  'VUn 
BulYvrw^H  of  llic  Aiiirrican  troopH  \v«'n*  viry  mvt  n,  and  tin  y 
^^^vre  killlnpr  their  horscH  tor  NnhNisti'niMS  hnt  the  cam])  wan 
Hecure,  from  the  Indians  Inivin^r  hnrnt  (h)Wn  all  tlu;  means  <  f 
conceahnent  so  necessary  in  their  mode  of  warfare.  iNotwith- 
Ktandinijr  wliich,  on  the  Ist,  2(1,  and  lk\  of  Mart  h,  tiie  camp 
was  vijroronsl}'  assaih'd.  On  the  (veninp^  of  the5lh,  the  Indian 
interpreter  came  in  from  the  Seminoh/s,  statinjf  that  they  wished 
to  liold  a  council,  and  did  not  want  any  more  ti^htinyr.  C)n  tin; 
(ith,  a  truce  was  held,  wIhmi  A»seolaand  other  chiefs  made  their 
appearance,  saying,  that  if  the  Americans  would  not  cross  the 
river,  they  would  remain  on  their  own  side  of  it,  and  not  com- 
mit any  more  ravajres.  This  was,  in  fact,  nothintr  Imt  the  ori- 
ginal proposal  of  the  Indians,  that  they  should  remain  u|)on  the 
land  which  had  heen  assigned  to  them  hy  the  treaty  ot  Camp 
Moultrie.  The  reply  of  (Jeneral  (Jaines  was,  that  he  was  not 
authorized  to  make  a  treaty  with  them ;  their  arms  must  he 
^•iven  up,  and  they  must  lemain  on  the  other  side  of  the  river, 
until  the  American  Ciovenmn^nt  sent  them  away  west  of  the 
Mississippi.  While  this  nejrociation  was  pendinfr,  (Jeneral 
(/linch  arrived  with  the  succour  and  reinforcements,  much  to 
the  joy  of  the  American  troo))s,  who  were  half  starved,  (ieneral 
(iaines,  who  had  heard  that  (Jeneral  Scott  had  heen  appointed 
to  the  command  in  Florida,  now  resigned  that  authority  to 
(jeneral  (Clarke,  and  on  the  lith,  the  troops  arrived  at  Fort 
Drane.  It  hardly  novA  he  ohserved,  that  the  treating  with  the 
Indians  ended  in  nothinir,  CJeneral  Scott  havinjj  assumed  the 
command,  arrived  at  Fort  Drane  on  the  13th  March,  183G.  He 
had  previously  to  contend  with  heavy  rains  and  almost  imprac- 
ticahle  rovuls,  and  was  encumhered  with  a  heavy  ba}Taag;e  train  ; 
his  whole  force  amountt^d  to  nearly  5,000  men.  This  he  dividtd 
into  a  centre  and  two  wings,  so  as  to  scour  the  whole  country, 
and  force  the  Indians  from  their  retreats ;  hut  in  vain.  The  In- 
dians being  on  tlie  flanks  of  each  division,  occasional  skirmishes 
took  place;  but  when  the  troops  arrived  to  where  the  Indians 
were  sup|)osc'd  to  be,  not  a  man  was  to  be  seen,  nor  could  they 
discover  the  retreat  of  their  families.  Occasionally  the  Indians 
attacked  the  outposts  with  great  vigour,  and  were  bravely  re- 
pulsed ;  but  the  whole  army  of  5,000  men,  did  not  kill  and 
capture  more  than  twenty  Indians.  As  far  as  I  can  judge, 
nothing  could  be  better  than  the  arrangements  of  General  Scott, 
but  the  nature  of  the  country  to  which  the  Indians  had  re- 
treated, rendered  it  almost  impossible  for  troops  to  act.  The 
swamps  extended  over  a  great  surface  of  ground,  here  and  there 
was  an  island  en  which  the  Indians  could  remain,  while  to 
attack  them,  the  troops  w  ju)d  have  to  wade  up  to  their  necks 


HI 


maiiryat's  diart. 


^9 


for  miles,  and  as  soon  as  tlmy  arrived  tho  Indians  wero  pfonc. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  follow  up  ail  tho  details  of  tlio  petty 
warfare  wljicli  has  continued  to  the  present  time.  General  Scott 
resigned  the  command,  and  was  succeeded  l)y  Ceneral  Jesup. 
After  nearly  a  year's  skirmishinjr,  on  tho  'JOth  October,  1837, 
Aaseola  was  persuaded  to  come  in  to  a  council.  The  llajrs  of 
truce  were  hoisted  by  tho  Americans,  and  Assc^ola,  carryinpr  a 
Hag  of  truce  in  his  hand,  accompanied  by  other  chiefs  and.  about 
fifty  warriors,  came  in  to  talk.  On  their  arrival,  they  were  sur- 
rounded by  bayonets,  and  made  prisoners  by  the  orders  of  tho 
Federal  Government,  who  despairinjr  of  subduinrr  the  Indians, 
had  recourse  to  this  shameful  breach  of  faith.  The  proud  spirit 
of  Asseola  could  not  endure  confinement:  he  died  in  prison. 
Other  chiefs  were  kidnapped  in  tho  same  traitorous  manner; 
but,  severe  as  the  loss  nmst  have  been  to  the  Indians,  it  did  not 
appear  to  discourage  them.  The  war  was  still  carried  on  by 
those  who  were  left,  and,  indeed,  it  still  continued;  for  the  ranks 
of  the  Indians  are  said  to  be  filled  up  by  runaway  slaves,  and 
some  of  the  Creek  Indians  who  have  not  yet  quitted  Georgia. 
On  tho  25th  of  December,  1837,  a  severe  battle  was  fought  be- 
tween the  Indians  and  tiie  American  troops,  at  a  spot  between 
Pease  Creek  and  the  Big  Cypress  Swamps;  on  this  occasion  the 
Americans  lost  Colonels  Thompson  and  Guntry,  with  twenty- 
eight  killed,  and  one  hundred  and  eleven  wounded.  Since  that  I 
am  not  aware  that  any  important  combat  has  taken  place;  but  this 
is  certain,  that  tho  Seminoles,  notwithstanding  the  loss  of  their 
leader,  still  hold  out  and  defy  the  whole  power  of  the  U.  States. 

It  is  asserted  in  the  American  papers  that  the  loss  of  lives  on 
the  American  side,  from  the  enemy  and  disease,  amounts  to  be- 
tween two  and  three  thousand  men,  and  that  the  expenses  of  the 
war  are  now  estimated  at  30,000,000  of  dollars.  Ilow  far  these 
calculations  may  be  correct  I  cannot  pretend  to  say,  but  this  is 
certain,  that  a  handful  of  Indians,  at  the  commencement  of  the 
war,  estimated  at  about  1,900,  have  held  out  against  armies  of 
four  or  five  times  their  number,  commanded  by  gallant  and  able 
oflficers;  that  this  small  band  of  Indians,  notwithstanding  the  loss 
from  the  weapons  of  enemy  and  their  still  greater  losses  from 
breach  of  faith,  have  now  for  four  years  held  out  against  the 
American  Government,  and  have  contrived  to  subsist  during  that 
period;  that  the  retreat  of  their  wives  and  families  has  never  been 
discovered,  notwithstanding  that  the  Americans  have  a  friendly 
portion  of  the  Seminoles  acting  with  them;  indeed,  if  we  are  to 
believe  the  American  statements,  the  war  is  almost  as  far  from 
its  conclusion  now  as  it  was  at  its  commencement.*     I  have 

•  Although  the  Federal  Government  have  set  their  face  against  the 
Indians  making  war  with  each  other,  (or  at  least  pretend  so  to  do,)  it 
would  appear  by  tiic  following  notice,  that,  in  their  necessity,  they 
iiavc  not  adhered  to  tho  following  resolutions: — 

^'Extract  of  a  Letter,  dated 

"  Fort  Brooke,  Florida,  Junk  14. 
*'  Tho  Chcroliocs  and  Choctaws  are  soon  expected  in  \hu  country, 
25 


( 
1 1 


zoo 


MARRY AT*S  DIART'< 


hastily  narrated  the  causes  and  principal  events  of  the  war,  as? 
they  are  little  known  in  England.  The  Americans  must  perse- 
vere, if  they  expend  twice  as  much  money,  until  they  have  ex* 
tirpated  every  Indian,  and  settled  the  territory  with  white  peo- 
ple; if  they  do  not,  the  Florida  swamps  will  become  the  regort 
of  runaway  slaves,  and  the  precedent  of  what  can  be  done,  en- 
courage a  general  rising"  of  the  slaves  in  the  adjoining  States, 
who  will  only  have  to  retire  to  the  banks  of  the  Ouithlacoochee 
and  defend  themselves.  So  fatal  is  the  climate  to  the  European, 
that  America  will  probably  have  to  sacrifice  life  and  treasure  to 
a  much  greater  extent,  before  she  now  obtains  possession  ?!"  the 
territory.  1  shall  conclude  witk  quoting  a  portion  of  a  letter 
from  the  Genevese  Traveller  which  appeared  in  the  Times  news- 
paper. 

"The  war  was  unrighteous  in  its  commencement,  and  has 
been  continued  for  years  under  circumstances  the  most  profli- 
gate. There  has  not  been  a  single  campaign  in  which  the  army 
has  not  reaped  a  plentiful  harvest  of  mca"tificalion  and  disgrace. 
When  brought  into  action  both  officers  and  men  fought  valiantly, 
but  the  character  of  the  country,  its  deep  morasses  and  swamps, 
and  the  ignorance  of  the  troops  of  Indian  warfare,  have  uniformly 
tended  to  produce  the  most  disastrous  defeats. 

"  There  is  not  to  be  found  on  the  page  of  history,  in  any  coun- 
try, an  instance  of  a  scattered  remnant  of  a  tribe,  so  few  in  num- 
ber, defending  themselves  against  the  assaults  of  a  disciplined 
and  numerous  army,  with  the  same  heroism  and  triumphant  re- 
sults, with  those  of  the  Seminoles  in  resisting  the  American 
troops.  In  every  campaign  the  invaders  have  been  at  least  ten 
to  one  against  the  invaded.  At  no  period  have  the  Indians  been 
able  to  muster  more  than  700  or  800  warriors,  and  it  is  doubtful 
whether  they  have  ever  had  more  than  half  that  numl>er,  while 
the  American  army,  when  in  the  field,  has  uniformly  amountrxV 
to  from  6,000  to  10,000  men." 


nay, 
not  0 

is,  g( 
revie 
revie 


REPLY 


TO 

THE  EDINBURGH  REVIEW, 

The  art  of  reviewing  may  be  compared  to  French  cookery;  it 
has  no  medium — it  must  either  be  first-rate  or  it  is  worth  nothing; 

when  there  will  be  a  war  of  extermination  and  no  quarter  shown. 
The  a^dirs  here  are  just  the  sunie  as  two  years  ago.  The  war  is  no 
nearer  ended.  But  we  do  hope  that  tlie  offer  of  ten  dollars  for  each 
Seminole  scalp  wilt  be  a  great  inducenicnt  for  tlie  Cherokces  and  Choc* 
taws  to  cut  and  slash  among  thetn." 


MARRYAT'S  DIAR7. 


S91 


ai^ 


nay,  the  comparison  goes  much  further,  as  the  attempt  at  either 
not  only  spoils  the  meat,  but  half  poisons  the  guests.  The  fact 
is,  good  reviewing  is  of  the  highest  order  of  literature,  for  a  good 
reviewer  ought  to  be  superior  to  the  party  whose  writings  he 
reviews.  Such  men  as  8outhey,  Croker,  and  Lockhart,  on  the 
one  side.  Brougham,  P'ontblanque,  and  Rintoul  on  the  other,  will 
always  commaud  respect  in  their  vocations,  however  much  they 
may  be  influenced  by  political  feelings,  or  however  little  you 
may  coincide  with  them  in  opinion;  but,  passing  over  these,  and 
three  or  four  more  cordons  bkus,  what  are  reviewers  in  general! 
men  of  talent  below  that  of  the  author  whose  works  they  would 
decide  upon;  the  major  portion  of  them,  having  failed  as  authors, 
possessed  with  but  one  feeling  in  their  disappointment,  which  is 
to  drag  others  down  to  their  own  level.  To  effect  this,  you  have 
malevolence  substituted  for  wit,  and  hiffh  soundino-  words  for 
sense;  every  paltry  advantage  taken  by  an  intentional  misappre- 
hension of  your  meaning,  and,  (what  is  the  great  secret  of  all) 
unfair  quotations  of  one  or  two  lines,  carefully  omitting  the  con- 
text; an  act  of  unpardonable  dishonesty  towards  the  author,  and 
but  too  often  successful  in  misleadintr  the  reader  of  the  review. 
By  acting  upon  this  last  mentioned  system,  there  is  no  book, 
whatever  its  merits  may  be,  which  cannot  be  misrepressnted  to 
the  public;  a  work  espousing  atheism  may  be  made  to  ap- 
peat  wholly  moral;  nay,  the  Holy  Scriptures  themselves  may  be 
condemned  as  licentious  and  indecent,  if  such  reviewing  is 
fair,  a  jury  may  then  decide  upon  a  case  by  the  evidence  in  favor 
of  the  prosecution;  and  correctness  or  demerit  in  architecture  be 
pronounced  upon  by  the  examination  of  a  few  bricks  taken  out 
from  different  portions  of  a  building. 

That  latterly  the  public  have  been  more  inclined  to  judge  for 
themselves  than  to  pin  their  faith  upon  reviews,  is  certain;  never- 
theless, when  what  is  termed  a  '•^slaMng  article'^  upon  a  popular 
work  makes  its  appearance,  the  public  are  too  apt  to  receive  it 
without  scrutiny;  satisfied  with  the  general  effect,  like  that  pro- 
duced in  the  representations  on  a  theatre,  they  do  not  bear  in 
mind  that  what  has  the  appearance  of  gold,  would  prove,  upon 
examination,  to  be  nothing  but  mere  tmsel. 

Were  all  reviewers  to  be  reviewed  by  authors  as  well  as  all 
authors  by  reviewers,  the  authors  would  have  the  best  of  it  in  the 
melee{  nay,  were  all  reviewers  obliged  to  put  their  names  to  their 
own  articles,  there  would  be  a  great  alteration  in  their  style;  but, 
aware  from  the  incognito,  that  the  disgrace  of  exposure  cannot 
be  their  portion,  and  that  an  author  has  seldom  the  power  to 
reply,  they  make  no  scruple  to  assert  what  they  know  to  be  false, 
and  to  cowardly  assail  those  who  have  seldom  an  opportunity  to 
defend  themselves.  There  never  was,  perhaps,  a  better  proof  of 
the  truth  of  the  foregoing  observations  than  the  article  in  the 
Edinburgh  Review  upon  the  first  portion  of  my  work  on  America, 
and  as  1  have  some  pages  to  spare,  I  shall  now  take  the  unusual 
liberty  of  reviewing  the  reviewer. 
>    First,  let  me  introduce  to  the  public  the  writer  of  the  article— 


•i 


1 

J 


892 


MARRVAT  S  DIARY. 


Miss  Harriet  Martincau.  My  readers  may  inquire  how  I  can  so 
positively  make  this  assertion?  I  reply  that  it  is  owing  to  my 
*'  craft."  A  person  who  has  long  dealt  in  pictures  will,  without 
hesitation,  tell  you  the  name  of  the  master;  nay,  a  shepherd  with 
a  flock  of  three  or  four  hundred  sheep  under  his  charge,  will  know 
every  one  of  them  individually,  although  to  people  in  general, 
one  sheep  is  but  the  counterpart  of  the  others.  There  are  little 
varieties  of  style,  manner,  and  handling  of  the  pen,  which  be- 
come evident  to  practised  writers,  though  they  are  not  always  so 
to  readers;  but  even  if  these  peculiarities  were  not  sufficient,  the 
manner  in  which  the  article  is  managed  (the  remarks  of  Miss 
Martineau  upon  the  merits  of  Miss  Martineau)  establish  in  my 
mind  to  conviction,  that  the  major  portion  of  the  article,  if  not 
the  whole,  has  proceeded  from  her  pen.  This  is  a  matter  of  no 
consequence,  and  I  only  mention  it  that  my  readers  may  under- 
stand why  Miss  Martineau,  who  forms  so  prominent  a  feature  in 
the  Edinburgh  article,  will  also  occasionally  appear  in  mine. 
My  reply,  however,  is  not  addressed  to  her,  but  to  the  Edinburgh 
reviewer. 

I  have  no  doubt  but  that  the  reviewer  will  most  positively  deny 
that  Miss  Martineau  had  any  thing  to  do  do  with  the  review  of  my 
work;  that  of  course.  With  his  permission,  I  will  relate  a  little 
anecdote.  "  When  the  Royal  George  went  down  at  Spithead,  an 
old  gentleman,  who  had  a  son  on  board,  was  bewailing  his  loss. 
His  friends  came  in  to  console  him — '  I  thought,'  observed  one 
of  them,  '  that  you  had  received  a  letter' — '  Yes,'  replied  the  old 
gentleman,  'but  it  was  from  Jack  himself.'' — '  Well,  what  more 
would  you  haver — '  Ah,'  replied  the  old  gentleman,  *  had  it 
been  from  the  captain,  or  from  one  of  his  messmates,  or,  indeed, 
from  anybody  else,  it  would  have  consoled  me;  but  Jack— he  is 
such  an  incorrigible  liar,  that  his  very  assertion  that  he  is  safe, 
convinces  me  that  he  has  gone  to  the  bottom.'  " 

Now  my  opinion  of  the  veracity  of  the  Edinburgh  Review 
may  be  estimated  from  the  above  anecdote;  the  very  circumstance 
of  its  denial  would,  with  me,  be  sufficient  to  establish  the  fact: 
but  to  proceed. 

The  Review  has  pronounced  the  first  portion  of  my  work  to 
be  light  and.  trifling  and  full  of  errors;  it  asserts  that  I  have  been 
hoaxed  by  the  Americans,that  I  am  incapable  of  sound  reasoning, 
cannot  estimate  human  nature,  and  requests  as  a  favor  that  I  will 
write  no  more.     Such  are  the  general  heads  of  the  Review. 

Now  here  we  have  a  strange  inconsistency,  for  why  should 
the  Edinburgh  Review,  if  the  work  be  really  what  he  asserts  it 
to  be,  "light  and  trifling,"  &c.,  waste  so  much  powder  and  shot 
upon  a  tomtit?  Why  has  he  dedicated  twenty-seven  pages  of 
ponderous  verbosity  upon  so  light  and  trifling  a  work?  How  sel- 
dom is  it  that  the  pages  of  the  Quarterly  or  Edinburgh  ever  con- 
descend to  notice  even  the  very  best  of  light  literature.  Do  they 
not  in  their  majesty  consider  it  infra  dig.  to  review  such  works, 
and  have  not  two  or  three  pages  bestowed  upon  them  been  con- 
sidered as  an  immense  favor  on  their  part,  and  a  high  compliment 


totl 

sevei 

Doe 

is  n( 

tions 

not ' 

adve 


MARRVAT'S  DIARY. 


293 


to  the  authors'?  Notwithstanding  which  we  have  here  twenty- 
seven  passes  of  virulent  attack  upon  my  light  and  trifling  work. 
Does  not  the  Edinburgh  reviewer  atonoe  establish  that  the  work 
is  not  light  and  trifling]  does  he  not  contradict  his  own  asser- 
tions, by  the  labor  and  space  bestowed  upon  it]  nay,  more,  is  it 
not  strange  that  he  should  think  it  necessary  to  take  the  unfair 
advantage  of  reviewing  a  work  before  it  is  half  finished,  and 
pounce  upon  the  first  portion  with  the  hopes  of  neutralising  the 
eflfects  which  he  apparently  dreads  from  the  second] 

I  will  answ^er  the  question  for  him;  his  precipitate  and  un- 
measured attacks,  are  because  he  feels  that  the  work  is  written 
in  a  style  that  will  induce  every  one  to  read  it;  because  he  feels 
assured  that  the  occasional  and  apparent  careless  hits  against  de- 
mocracy, are  only  preparatory  to  others  more  severe,  and  that 
they  will  come  out  in  the  second  part,  which  will  be  read  as  well 
as  the  first.  He  perceives  the  drift  of  the  work;  he  feels  that  it 
has  l)een  purposely  made  amusing,  and  that  it  will  be  more  inju- 
rious to  the  cause  which  the  Edinburgh  Review  upholds  than  a 
more  laboured  treatise;  that  those  who  would  not  look  at  a  more 
serious  work  will  read  this,  and  that  the  opinions  it  contains  will 
be  widely  disseminated,  and  be  impressed  without  the  readers 
being  aware  of  it;  nrioreover,  that  it  will  descend  to  a  class  of 
readers  who  have  hitherto  been  uninformed;  in  short,  the  great 
danger  of  the  work  is  that  it  has  been  made  amusing,  and  is  in 
appearance,  although  not  in  reality,  "light  and  trifling." 

I  candidly  acknowledge  that  the  Reviewer  is  right  in  his  sup- 
position, my  great  object  has  been  to  do  serious  injury  to  the 
causB  of  democracy;  and  to  effect  that,  it  was  necessary  that  I 
should  write  a  book  which  should  be  universally  read,  not  merely 
by  the  highly  educated  portion  of  the  community,  for  they  are 
able  to  judge  for  themselves;  what  I  wished  to  obtain  was  to  be 
read  by  every  tradesman  and  mechanic;  to  be  pored  over  by  even 
milliners'  girls,  and  boys  behind  the  counter,  to  be  thumbed  to 
pieces  in  every  petty  circulating  library.  I  wrote  the  work  with 
this  object,  and  I  wrote  accordingly.  Light  and  trifling  as  the 
work  may  appear  to  be,  every  page  of  it  (as  1  have  stated)  has 
been  the  subject  of  examination  and  deliberation,  it  has  given  me 
more  trouble  than  any  work  1  ever  wrote,  and,  my  labour  having 
been  so  far  crowned  with  success,  I  trust  that  1  shall  have  "  done 
the  State  some  service."*  The  review  in  the  Edinburgh  will 
not  harm  me,  as  it  chiefly  circulates  among  those  classes  who 
have  already  formed  their  opinions;  and  I  have  this  advantage 
over  it,  that,  as  for  one  that  reads  the  Edinburgh  Review,  fifty 


*  A  very  acute  reviewer,  has  observed  of  my  first  portion  that  there 
always  appeared  as  if  there  was  sornethinsf  left  behind  and  not  told^. 
He  was  right;  I  have  entered  into  every  subject  just  as  deep  as  I  dared 
to  venture,  without  woaryingr  the  class  of  readers,  for  whom,  althoufifh 
not  avowedly,  yet  in  reality,  the  work  has  chiefly  been  written.  The 
second  portion  will  therefore  be  found  almost  as  hght  und  trifling  im. 
the  Arst.     -  .   ..-  ...,..,_.  i  '  ^..j'-^tsri .  ..  v  ^    ..    .   .  .■ -^ 

'     25*  ^  *• 


904 


MARRY AT'S  DIARY. 


will  read  my  work,  so  will  fifty  read  my  reply  who  will  never 
trouble  themselves  about  the  article  in  the  Edinburgh  Review. 

And  now  let  us  enter  a  little  into  detail.  The  Reviewer  finds 
great  fault  with  my  Introduction,  as  beinor  wholly  irrelevant  to 
the  Diary  which  follows  it.  I  admit,  that  if  it  were  an  intro- 
duction to  the  Diary  alone  then  there  would  be  justice  in  his  re- 
mark. But  such  is  not  the  case;  an  introduction  is,  I  believe, 
generally  understood  to  refer  to  and  embrace  the  whole  of  the 
work,  not  a  portion  of  it;  and  now  that  the  work  is  complete,  1 
leave  it  to  the  public  to  decide  whether  the  introduction  is  suit- 
able or  not,  as  bearing  upon  the  whole.  I  believe  it  is  usually 
the  custom  to  place  an  introduction  at  the  commencement  of  a 
work;  I  never  heard  of  one  being  introduced  into  the  middle  or 
at  the  end.  The  fault,  therefore,  of  it  up  to  the  present  appearing 
irrelevant,  is  not  mine,  but  proceeds  from  the  Reviewer  having 
thought  proper  to  review  the  work  before  it  was  complete.  He 
quotes  me,  saying,  "  Captain  Marry afs  object  was  to  examine  and 
ascertain  what  were  the  effects  of  a  democratic  form  of  government 
upon  a  people,  which  with  its  foreign  admixture  may  still  be  con- 
sidered as  English,''^  and  then,  without  waiting  for  me  to  com- 
plete my  task,  he  says,  that  the  present  work  "  has  nothing,  or 
next  to  nothingf,  to  do  with  such  an  avowal."  Whether  such  an 
avowal  has  any  thing  to  do  with  the  work  now  that  it  is  com- 
pleted, I  leave  the  public  to  decide.  The  Reviewer  has  no  ex- 
cuse for  this  illiberal  conduct,  for  I  have  said,  in  my  Introduc- 
tion, "  In  the  arrangement  of  this  work,  I  have  considered  it  ad- 
visable to  present  to  the  reader  first,  those  portions  of  my  Diary 
v.'hich  may  be  interesting,  and  in  which  are  recorded  traits  and 
incidents  which  will  bear  strongly  upon  the  commentaries  I  shall 
subsequently  7nake,-^^  notwithstanding  which  the  reviewer  has  the 
mendacity  to  assert  that,  "  not  until  the  last  paragraph  of  the 
last  volume,  does  he  learn  for  the  first  lime  that  the  work  is  not 
complete."  I  will  be  content  with  quoting  his  own  words 
against  him:  **./5/i  habitual  story  teller  prefers  invention  to  de- 
scription." 

The  next  proof  of  the  reviewer's  dishonesty  is,  his  quoting  a 
portion  of  a  paragraph  and  rejecting  the  context.  He  quotes, 
*'  I  had  not  been  three  weeks  in  the  country  before  I  decided 
upon  accepting  no  more  invitations,  charily  as  they  were  made," 
and  upon  this  quotation  he  founds  an  argument  that,  as  I  did  not 
enter  into  society,  1  could  of  course  have  no  means  of  gaining 
any  knowledge  of  American  character  and  institutions.  Now,  if 
the  reviewer  had  had  tlie  common  honesty  to  finish  the  paragraph, 
the  reason  why  I  refused  the  invitations  would  have  been  under- 
stood; "because  I  found  that,  although  invited,  my  presence  was 
a  restraint  upon  the  company,  and  every  one  was  afraid  to  speaky 
Perhaps  the  sagacity  of  the  reviewer  will  point  out  what  infor- 
mation I  was  likely  to  gain  from  people  who  would  not  open 
their  mouths.  Had  he  any  knowledge  of  the  Americans,  he 
would  admit  that  they  never  will  venture  to  give  their  opinions 
before  each  other,'  it  was  not  that  they  were  afraid  of  me,  but  afraid 


/- 


MARRY AT'S  DIARY. 


295 


of  each  other,  as  M.  Tocqueville  has  very  truly  pointed  out  in 
his  work.  Moreover,  I  have  now,  for  the  first  time,  to  learn 
that  the  best  way  of  arriving  at  the  truth  is  to  meet  people  who 
are  on  their  guard,  and  whose  object  is  to  deceive.  However, 
in  this  case  I  make  some  allowance  for  the  feelings  of  a  re- 
viewer, being  aware  how  astonishingly  a  good  dinner  from  an 
author  will  correct  his  bile,  and  soften  down  the  intended  acri- 
mony of  a  review. 

There  is  a  malevolent  feeling  in  the  assertion;  that  I  have 
treated  all  other  previous  writers  on  America  with  contempt;  and 
here  again  he  intentionally  quotes  falsely.  My  words  are,  "  the 
majurity  of  those  who  have  preceded  me."  As  nearly  as  I  can 
reckon,  there  have  been  about  fifty  works  published  on  America, 
out  of  which  there  are  not  ten  which  deserve  attention,  and  the 
ample  quotations  I  have  made  from  M.  Tocqueville,  Captain 
Hamilton,  and  others,  in  corroboration  of  my  own  opinions,  fully 
establish  the  respect  I  have  for  their  writings.  In  fact,  the 
whole  article  is  a  tissue  of  falsehood  and  misrepresentation,  and 
80  weak  that  hardly  a  position  is  tenable.  Can  any  thing  be 
more  absurd,  or  more  shallow  than  to  quote  the  Mississippi 
scheme  and  Mr.  Law  as  a  proof  that  the  French  are,  as  well  as 
the  English  and  Americans,  a  speculative  nation,-  one  solitary 
instance  of  a  portion  of  the  French  having  been  induced  to  em- 
bark their  capital,  about  sixty  or  seventy  years  ago,  brought  for- 
ward while  the  abject  supineness  of  the  French  population  of 
Lower  Canada,  in  juxta  position  with  the  energy  and  enter- 
prise of  the  Americans,  has  for  half  a  century  stared  us  in  the 
iace. 

The  Reviewer  has  the  kindness  repeatedly  to  inform  me  that 
I  have  been  hoaxed  by  the  Americans,  and  most  unfortunately 
for  himself  he  has  brought  forward  the  "  Original  draft  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence"  as  a  proof.     That  he  would  be 
very  glad  to  prove  it  to  be  a  hoax,  1  believe,  as  it  is  a  sad  dis- 
covery, and  one  which  the  American  democrats  should  have  kept 
secret.     That  the  Americans  did  hoax  Miss  Martineau,  and  that 
they  would  have  hoaxed  me  if  they  could,  I  admit,  but  even  the 
Reviewer  must  acknowledge  that  they  would  not  hoax  them- 
selves.    Now  it  so  happens  that  this  document,  which  has  not 
long  been  discovered,  is  in  the  splendid  public  library  of  Phila- 
delphia, that  it  has  been  carefully  preserved  in  a  double  plate- 
glass  frame,  so  as  to  be  read  on  both  sides  without  handling, 
expensively  mounted,  and  is  shown  to  every  visitor  as  a  great 
curiosity,  as  it  certainly  is,  as  the  authenticity  of  it  is  undeniable, 
and  acknowledged  by  the  Americans.     The  paragraph  which 
was  expunged  is  verbatim  as  I  gave  it,  a  paragraph  which  affords 
more  proof,  if  further  proof  was  necessary,  that  Jefferson  was 
one  of  the  most  unprincipled  men  who  ever  existed.     The  Re- 
viewer recommends  my  perusal  of  the  works  of  this  ^^  great  and 
gmd  man,^^zs  Miss  Martineau  calls  him.     I  suspect  that  I  have 
read  more  of  Mr.  .Jefferson  and  other  American  authors  than  ever 
the  Reviewer  has,  and  I  consider  the  writings  of  this  Father  of 


'li 


I' 


29G 


MARRY AT'S  DIARV. 


Democracy  opposed  to  his  private  life — to  be  a  remarkable  type 
of  democracy  in  theory  and  in  practice.  To  borrow  a  term  from 
the  Reviewer,  those  writings  are  "  brave  words'^  to  proceed  from 
an  infidel  who  proved  his  ardent  love  of  liberty  by  allowing  his 
own  children  to  be  put  up  to  auction  at  his  death,  and  wear  away 
their  existence  in  misery  and  bondage.  I  cannot  help  here  ob- 
serving a  trifiing  incnnsUicncy  on  the  part  of  the  Reviewer;  after 
landing  the  Father  of  Democracy,  and  recommending  me  to  read 
his  works;  after  sneering  at  our  aristocracy  by  observing,  "  that 
no  kind  of  virtue  that  we  have  heard  of  can  suffer  much  from  the 
loss  of  a  court  and  of  an  hereditary  nobility;^^  after,  in  short,  de- 
fending and  upholding  democracy  in  every  page,  all  of  a  sudden 
the  Reviewer  turns  round  and  says,  "  W^e  are  no  general  admirers 
of  democracy. ^^  Indeed  !  if  not  general,  you  certainly  appear  to 
be  particular  admirers ;  and  if  neither  general  nor  particular, 
may  I  inquire  what  the  Edinburgh  Review  has  been  frothing, 
fizzing,  hissing  and  bubbling  about,  like  a  tea-kettle  in  a  passion, 
for  these  last  twenty  years  1 

Never  was  there  a  more  convincing  proof  of  the  boldness  and 
arrogance  ventured  upon  by  reviewers,  from  the  irresponsibility 
arising  from  their  concealment,  than  in  the  following  passage  in 
the  Edinburgh  article: — 

"^n  ardent  pursuit  of  wealth  and  deep  religious  feelings  go  very 
well  together." 

It  is  not  for  me  to  reply  to  the  Reviewer  in  this  instance;  I 
must  hand  him  over  to  higher  authority.  I  must  oppose  the 
everlasting  doctrines  of  inspiration  to  the  cold,  heartless  and 
arrogant  philosophy  of  an  Edinburgh  reviewer.  In  vain  are  we 
again  and  again  forewarned  in  the  Scriptures  against  the  love  of 
money;  in  vain  has  our  Saviour  denounced ;  in  vain  have  the 
apostles  followed  in  his  steps.  Let  the  Reviewer,  if  he"  ever 
has  looked  into  the  Bible,  refer  to  the  epistles  to  the  Colossians 
and  to  the  Ephesians.  St.  Paul  declares  that  covetousness  is 
idolatry.     Hear  also  what  he  sayeth  to  Timothy: — 

"  But  they  that  ivish  to  be  rich  fall  into  temptation  and  a  snare, 
and  into  many  foolish  and  hurtful  lusts,  which  drown  men  in 
destruction  and  perdition."  "  For  the  love  of  money  is  the  root 
of  all  evil." 

Our  Divine  Master  is  even  more  explicit,  for  he  says — "  No 
servant  can  serve  two  masters;  for  either  he  will  hate  the  one, 
and  love  the  other,  or  else  he  will  hold  to  the  one,  and  despise 
the  other.  Ye  cannot  serve  God  and  Mamm,on."  Thus  says  our 
Lord;  now  hear  the  Edinburgh  Reviewer: — "An  ardent  pursuit 
of  ivealth  and  deep  religious  feelings  go  very  well  together." 

Here  the  EJinburgh  Reviewer  has  placed  himself  on  the 
horns  of  a  dilemma.  The  Holy  Writings  assert  most  positively 
and  repeatedly  one  thing,  while  he  asserts  another.  If,  there- 
fore, he  acknowledges  the  Scriptures,  he  must  at  the  same  time 
acknowledge  his  own  grevious  error,  and,  I  may  add,  his  deep 
sin.  If,  on  the  contrary,  he  still  holds  to  his  own  opinion,  hath 
he  not  denied  his  faith,  and  is  he  not  worse  than  an  infidell 


'       1^ 


I 


MARRYAT'S  DIARV. 


297 


)r 


;r 


•s 


The  Reviewer  sneers  at  my  observation,  that  "  Washington 
had  no  power  to  control  the  nature  of  man."  It  may  be,  as  he 
observes,  a  very  simple  remark;  but,  at  all  events,  it  has  one  ad- 
vantage over  his  own,  which  is,  that  it  is  a  very  true  one.  Miss 
Martineau  makes  an  observation  in  her  book,  which  is  quite  as 
great  a  truism  as  mine;  for  she  also  says  that  "  Human  nature 
is  the  same  every  where." 

How  far  I  have  succeeded  in  my  analysis  of  human  nature  it 
is  not  for  me  to  decide;  but  that  it  is  the  same  every  where  I 
will  now  venture  to  support  by  something  more  than  assertion 
on  the  part  of  Miss  Martineau. 

When  I  was  at  Boston,  in  company  with  some  of  the  young 
ladies,  the  conversation  turned  upon  Miss  Martineau,  with  whom 
they  stated  that  they  had  been  intimate.  Naturally  anxious  to 
know  more  of  so  celebrated  a  personage,  I  asked  many  questions. 
1  was  told  much  lo  interest  me,  and,  among  other  little  anec- 
dotes, they  said  that  Miss  Martineau  used  to  sit  down  surrounded 
by  the  young  ladies,  and  amuse  them  with  all  the  histories  of  her 
former  loves.  She  would  detail  to  them  "how  Jack  sighed  and 
squeezed  her  hand;  how  Tom  went  down  on  his  knees;  how 
Dick  swore  and  Sam  vowed;  and  how — she  was  still  Miss  Mar- 
tineau." And  thus  would  she  narrate  and  would  they  listen 
until  the  sun  went  down,  and  the  fire-fly  danced,  while  the  frogs 
lifted  up  their  voices  in  full  concert. 

And  1  said  to  myself,  "  Who  would  have  supposed  that  this 
Solon  in  petticoats  would  ever  have  dwelt  upon  her  former  days 
of  enthusiasm  and  hope,  or  have  cherished  the  reminiscences  of 
love?     How  true  it  is  that  human  nature  is  the  same  every  where. 

Once  more: — 

I  was  conversing  with  a  lady  at  New  York,  who  informed 
me  that  she  had  seen  a  letter  from  Miss  M.,  written  to  a  friend 
of  hers,  after  her  return  to  England,  in  which  Miss  M.  declared 
that  her  door  was  so  besieged  with  the  carriages  of  the  nobility, 
that  it  was  quite  uncomfortable,  and  that  she  hardly  knew  what 
to  do. 

Thinks  I  to  myself  I  recollect  an  old  story. 

"  Oh!  Grandmother,"  cried  Tom,  running  in  out  of  breath, 
"  there's  at  least  a  thousand  cats  in  our  garden." — *'  No,  no, 
Tom,"  quickly  replied  the  old  lady;  "  not  a  thousand,  Tom." — 
"  Well,  I'm  sure  there's  five  hundred." — *'No,  not  five  hun- 
dred," repled  the  old  lady,  not  taking  her  eyes  off  her  knitting. 
— "  Well,  then,  grandmother,  I'm  sure  there's  fifty."— "I  don't 
think  there  are  fifty,  Tom." — "  Well,  at  all  events,  there's  our 
cat  and  ano/Acr."— "Ah!  Tom,"  replied  the  old  lady,  "  that  may 
be." 

I  believe  that  the  carriage  of  Lord  Brougham  is  occasionally 
to  be  seen  at  the  door  of  Miss  Martineau. 

But  when  I  heard  this  I  was  pleased,  for  I  said  to  myself, 
"  So,  then,  this  champion  of  democracy,  this  scorner  of  rank  and 
title,  is  flattered  by  the  carriages  of  the  nobility  crowding  at  her 
door;  and  again  I  said  to  myself,  human  nature  is  the  same  everif 
where," 


J) 


298 


MARRY AT's  diary. 


But  the  Reviewer,  in  his  virulence,  has  not  been  satisfied  with 
attacking  me;  he  has  thought  it  necessary  to  libel  the  whole 
profession  to  which  I  have  the  honor  to  belong.  He  lias  had 
the  folly  and  impertinence  to  make  the  following  remark:  "  No 
landsman  c{in  have  been  on  board  of  a  ship  a  week,  without 
coming  to  the  conclusion  that  a  sensible  hoii^e  dog  is  more  like 
the  people  he  has  left  at  home  tlian  luusl  of  his  new  companions, 
and  that  it  (the  house  dog)  would  be  nearly  as  capable  of  solving 
problems  on  national  character." 

Indeed ! ! 

Is  it  possible  that  the  Reviewer  should  still  remain  in  such  a 
vulgar  error?  that  at  one  time  it  was  the  custom  to  send  to  sea 
the  fool  iif  the  family^  is  certain,  and  had  the  Reviewer  flourished 
ill  those  days,  he  would  probably  have  been  the  one  devoted  to 
the  service — hwitempora  mutantur.  Is  the  Reviewer  aware  that 
one-half,  and  certainly  the  most  successful  half,  of  English  diplo- 
macy, is  now  carried  on  by  the  admirals  and  captains,  not  only 
in  the  Mediterranean,  but  all  over  the  world.  Is  he  aware  that 
when  the  Foreign  Office  wishes  to  do  its  work  cheap  and  well, 
that  it  demand-?  a  vessel  from  the  Admiralty,  which  is  made  over 
to  that  office,  and  is  set  down  as  employed  on  "particulr  ser- 
vice;" that  during  that  service  the  captain  acts  from  instructions 
given  by  the  Foreign  Office  alone,  and  has  his  cabin  piled  with 
the  most  imcompreheusible  documents;  that,  like  the  unpaid 
magistracy  of  England,  we  sailors  do  all  the  best  of  the  work, 
and  have  nothing  but  our  trouble  for  our  pains.  Nay,  even  the 
humble  individual  who  pens  this  remonstrance  has  been  for 
months  on  this  very  service,  and  when  it  was  completed  the 
Foreign  Office  expressed  to  the  Admiralty  its  satisfaction  at  his 
conduct  during  his  short  diplomatic  career. 

House  dogs!  Hear  this,  ye  public  of  England,  a  sensible  house 
dog  is  to  be  preferred  to  St.  Vincent,  Nelson,  Collingwood,  Ex- 
mouth,  and  all  those  great  men  who  have  aided  their  country  as 
much  with  their  pen  as  witH  their  sword;  as  much  by  their 
acuteness  and  firmness  in  diplomacy,  as  by  their  courage  and 
conduct  in  action. 

Now,  Mr.  Reviewer,  don't  you  feel  a  little  ashamed  of  your- 
sein  Would  you  really  like  to  give  up  your  name  as  the  author 
of  this  bare-faced  libel?  Would  you  like  openly  to  assert  that 
such  is  your  opinion,  and  that  you  will  stand  by  iti 

No  liberal,  high-minded  man,  whatever  his  politics  may  have 
been,  has  ever  refused  to  do  justice  to  a  service  which  has  been 
the  bulwark  of  England.  Lord  Brougham  has  lately  published 
a  work  containing  the  lives  of  celebrated  persons  in  the  reign  of 
George  III;  I  will  just  quote  a  few  passages  from  his  life  of 
Lord  St.  Vincent. 

"  The  present  sketches  would  be  imperfect  if  Lord  St.  Vin- 
cent were  passed  over  in  silence,  for  he  was  almost  as  distin- 
guished among  the  statesmen,  as  the  warriors  of  the  age. 

"  A  statesman  of  profound  views  and  of  penetration,  hardly 
equalled  by  any  other  man  of  his  time. 


I 


MARRYAt's  DIARY. 


2f)9 


"But  the  consummate  vipfour  and  wisdom  of  his  proceedings 
during  the  dreadful  period  of  the  mutiny,  are  no  less  a  theme  of 
wonder  and  of  praise. 

"When  the  Addinjfton  ministry  was  formed,  he  v/as  placed 
at  the  head  of  the  Admiralty;  and  now  shone  forth  in  all  its 
lustre,  that  great  capacity  for  affairs  with  which  he  was  endowed 
by  nature,  and  which  ample  experience  of  men,  habits  of  com* 
mand,  and  an  extended  life  of  deep  reflection  had  matured. 

"  The  capacity  of  a  sfateitman  and  the  valor  of  the  hero,  out- 
shone by  the  magnanimous  heart  which  beats  only  to  the  mea- 
sures of  generosity  and  justice." 

Here,  again,  the  Reviewer  is  in  what  the  Yankees  would  call 
an  everlasting  "awkward  fix;"  for  he  contradicts  Lord  Broug- 
ham, the  patron  and  sole  supporter  of  his  fast-waning  Review, 
for  without  the  aid  of  his  admirable  pen,  it  would  long  ago  have 
gone  to  its  proper  place.  He  must  now  either  admit  that  he  is 
himself  wrong,  or  that  it  is  Lord  Brougham  who  is  in  error.  He 
has  but  to  choose. 

I  have  but  one  more  remark  to  make  upon  the  review  itself. 
At  tiie  close  of  it,  the  reviewer  observes,  that  my  remarks  upon 
the  marine  are  interesting  and  useful.  How  does  he  know? 
Upon  his  own  argument,  if  we  house  dogs  are  not  competent 
upon  shore  matters,  he  must  be  equally  ignorant  of  any  thing 
connected  with  our  profession;  and  I  therefore  consider  it  a  piece 
of  unpardonable  presumption  on  the  part  of  a  land  lubber  like  him 
to  offer  any  opinion  on  the  subject. 

The  reviewer,  whoever  it  may  be,  has  proved  himself  wholly 
incompetent  to  his  task;  he  has  attacked,  but  has  yet  to  learn 
the  art  of  parrying,  as  has  been  proved  by  his  laying  himself 
so  open.  His  blows  have  been  stopped,  and,  without  giving 
any,  he  has  received  severe  punishment.  1  am  the  more  sur- 
prised, as  1  really  considered  that  there  was  a  certain  tact  in  the 
Edinburgh  Review,  which  enabled  it  to  know  where  to  direct 
the  blow,  so  as  to  make  it  tell;  a  species  of  professional  know- 
ledge proper  to  executioners,  reviewers,  and  cab-drivers,  and 
which  may  be  summed  up  in  the  following  axiom:  "The  great 
art  of  flogging  is,  to  know  where  to  find  a  bit  of  raw." 

So  little  have  I  felt  the  castigation  intended,  that  I  have  had 
some  compunction  in  administering  the  discipline  to  the  reviewer 
in  return.  Surely  the  Edinburgh  Review  can  put  a  better  head 
on,  when  it  takes  notice  of  this  second  portion  of  my  work?  I 
will  give  it  an  anecdote. 

A  lady  of  my  acquaintance  was  blessed  with  a  son,  then  about 
three  years  old.  She  was  very  indulgent,  and  he  was  very  much 
spoiled.  At  last  he  became  so  unmanageable  that  she  felt  it  was 
her  imperative  duty  to  correct  him.  She  would  as  soon  have 
cut  off  her  right  arm,  but  that  would  not  have  mended  the  matter, 
nor  the  Child.  So  one.day,  when  the  young  gentleman  had  been 
more  than  usually  uproarious,  she  did  pull  up  his  petticoats  and 
administered  what  she  considered  a  most  severe  infliction.  Hav- 
ing so  done,  with  a  palpitating  heart)  she  ssitidbwn  to  recover 


300 


marrvat'8  diary. 


herself,  miserable  that  slie  had  been  compelled  to  punish,  but 
attempting  to  console  herself  with  the  reflection  that  she  had 
done  her  duty.  What  then  was  her  surprise  to  have  her 
reveries  interrupted  by  the  young  urchin,  who  (appealing  only  to 
have  been  tickled^)  came  up  to  her,  and  lying  down  his  head  on 
her  lap,  pulled  up  his  coats,  and  cried,  "  More  whipping,  Ma; 
please,  more  whipping."  So  weak  has  been  the  wrist,  whether 
It  be  feminine  or  not,  that  has  applied  the  punishment,  that  I  also 
feel  inclined  to  exclaim  with  the  child,  "  More  whipping;  (Miss 
MartineauT)  please,  more  whipping." 

The  reviewer  has  pronounced  that  "  no  author  is  cleverer  than 
his  worfes;"  if  no  author  is  cleverer  than  his  works,  it  is  equally 
certain  that  no  reviewer  is  cleverer  than  his  review.  Does  the  re- 
viewer recollect  the  fable  of  the  jackass  who  put  on  the  lion's 
skini  Why  did  he  not  take  warning  from  tiie  fabled  folly  of  his 
ancestor  and  hold  his  tongue.  Ho  might  still  have  walked  about 
and  have  been  supposed  to  be  a  Reviewer. 

He  asserts  that  I  am  not  capable  of  serious  reflection:  he  is 
mistaken.  I  have  seldom  cut  the  leaves  of  the  Edinburgh^  hav- 
ing been  satisfied  with  looking  at  its  outside,  and  thinking  how 
very  appropriate  its  colors  of  blue  and  yellnvj  were  to  the  opinions 
which  it  advocates.  But  at  times  I  have  been  more  serious.  I 
have  communed  with  myself  as  it  laid  before  me,  and  I  have 
mentally  exclaimed: — Here  is  a  work  written  by  men  whom  the 
Almighty  has  endowed  with  talents,  and  who  will,  if  there  be 
truth  in  Scripture,  have  to  answer  for  the  talents  committed  to 
their  keeping— yet  these  men,  like  madmen,  throw  about  fire, 
and  cry  it  is  only  in  sport;  they  uphold  doctrines  as  pernicious  as, 
unfortunately,  they  are  popular;  disseminate  error  under  the  most 
specious  guise,  wage  war  against  the  happiness  of  their  fellow- 
creatures,  unhinging  society,  breeding  discontent,  waving  the 
banner  of  infidelity  and  rebellion,  and  inviting  to  anarchy  and 
bloodshed — and  to  this  prostitution  of  talent,  to  this  work  of  the 
devil,  they  are  stimulated  by  their  pride  and  their  desire  of  gain! 
And  1  have  surmised  that  hereafter  they  will  have  their  reward; 
but,  remembering  that  we  are  forbid  to  judge,  I  have  checked  my 
thoughts  as  they  have  wandered^  as  to  what  might  hereafter  be 
the  portion  below  of— an  Edinburgh  Reviewer. 


THE  END. 


